Autistic man attempts to break world hugging record

A man with autism is hoping to have broken the world record for the giving the most hugs in 60 seconds.

Arsenal Whittick, 62, from Poole, said he had previously struggled to show affection to his daughters because of his condition, but had managed to overcome that in time.

He said he hoped the attempt would lead to "better understanding" of autism spectrum disorder.

Scores of volunteers took part in the effort at The Dolphin shopping centre in Poole on Sunday, but it is yet to be confirmed by Guinness World Records.

The current official record for "most hugs given in one minute by an individual" is held by reality TV star Sam Thompson - he hugged 88 people on ITV's This Morning, in 2024.

It is believed Mr Whittick managed to hug 91 people during his attempt.

He explained he had previously been unable to hug his daughters because of his then-undiagnosed condition.

On a Facebook post before the record attempt, he recalled: "when they came up to me, I'd go, 'no this is my space' and then I'll turn away on them - I never realised it was hurting them."

"In 2010, my 14-year-old daughter came home from school in tears, came up to me and put her head on my shoulder for a hug and I just stood there."

He was 49 in 2011, when he got diagnosed with autism and said "I've been learning what I can and can't do."

Mr Whittick said a mass-hugging record attempt would show people with autism could achieve such things if given "their own processing time"

He said he had practiced for the record attempt by placing chairs next to each other with a small gap and timed himself hugging the chairs.

"I've hugged that chair, then I've hugged that chair next and I've done about 93."

Guinness World Records said it was awaiting video evidence before it could confirm a record.

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