SOUTHAMPTON extreme sports star Gary Hunt declared himself “ecstatic” after claiming yet another victory in the 2015 Red Bull World Cliff Diving series.

And, in doing so, he exorcised a demon that had been with him since 2010.

The 31-year-old pulled off five 10s in three rounds of competition in Polignano, Italy, and finished with a running take-off and a personal best of 548.20 points for his sixth win in seven events this year.

Hunt, who had already clinched the 2015 title prior to the penultimate event, scored highest in each of the day’s three rounds and bettered his own point record by 14.30 points to an all-time high score of 548.20.

After woving the 55,000-strong crowd, former Southampton Diving Academy star Hunt said: “I’m just ecstatic.

“The last dive that I did in Polignano a few years ago was the only dive I’ve ended up in hospital after.

“When the calendar came out for this season I knew I had to finish that business from five years ago and do a running dive again.

“Thankfully it worked out, and to finish on a high note is amazing.”

Back in 2010, Hunt had to be taken to hospital after suffering chest and head injuries after his entry to the water, following his new running jump, saw him hit a crest of a wave.

Hunt is now 480 points ahead of second placed Orlando Duque heading into the final event of the 2015 series in Bilbao, Spain, at the end of this month.

Another former Southampton Diving Academy member, Blake Aldridge, is currently fourth in the overall standings after a fifth placed finish in Polignano.