‘It is OK to stand out’: US teen’s hands and feet are world record-setting

Eric Kilburn, 16, says those who put others down over differences are usually the most unhappy people out there'

Eric Kilburn Jr's mother knew his feet were exceptionally big when, in his teens, she began needing to spend thousands of dollars to have his shoes specially made. But it turned out they were bigger than anyone else's in the world who was his age - and so were his hands.

Sixteen-year-old Eric fits his 13.5in (34cm) feet in American size 23 shoes (UK size 22) - more than double the average of adult men, which is about 9 in the US. His hands, at 9.13in, easily surpass the 7.14in average for his age.