If you’re looking for a reason to play Pokémon Go, this is it.
Sam Clark, a married father-of-four, has claimed to be the first person to catch all 142 different species of Pokémon characters in the UK. To top it off, the Brit player also lost two stone while doing so!
The Southampton, Hampshire resident walked 140 miles hunting for all 1,390 virtual creatures. “It’s been fantastic; I’ve taken about four inches off my waist – I can barely fit into the same jeans,” said Mr. Clark. “It has helped me lose two stone – something I had been struggling with.” For 10 years, it turns out.
A full-time phone repair engineer and dad, Mr. Clark still found time in his busy schedule for the game, even going on an 11-hour-long Pokémon “hunt” with other players.
“The time I go out catching Pokémon is late at night or early in the morning when the kids are asleep,” the 33-year-old said. “I’ve been lucky to be based in Southampton which has sea, forest, and wetlands.”
Being an avid Pokémon player has brought Mr. Clark closer to his children, who are also huge fans of the game. He said: “The game is a great excuse to take the kids out to the park – the social aspect of the game is absolutely amazing.”
The game has also helped Mr. Clark in boosting his confidence by meeting like-minded Pokemon Go players, saying it has encouraged him “to get out and meet people.”
Mr. Clark caught his last Pokémon, a Lapras, “round the back of Primark”. His stash is two Pokémon away from completing the characters currently available worldwide, and he said he would “work his socks off” to catch the remaining two.
If only he weren’t afraid of flying.