A STUDENT from York is preparing to spend his summer break by being among the first westerners to kayak in lakes in Central Asia.

Dave Burne, 22, is a second-year medicine student at the University of York, and is leading a five-man expedition to Tajikistan next week.

“We’re hoping to explore and kayak the rivers of the Pamir, Fan, and Alay mountains,” said Dave, originally from Doncaster.

“We know there are a few that will have been paddled by a group of Russians and a small group of Americans, so we hope to warm up on some rivers which have had previous descents and have easier access, and then complete a couple of first descents.”

The Republic of Tajikistan shares borders with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China, and was formerly part of the Soviet Union.

Each of the five-man team will carry their own kayak and about 70 pounds of equipment, including tents, food and safety equipment, on the three-and-a-half week trip.

This will not be the first time Dave has experienced kayaking in the wilderness, as he has previously been on expeditions to Siberia and Mongolia.

“I pretty much grew up on a boat. Apparently I first went kayaking with my dad when I was just three weeks old,” he said.