British adventurer Karl Bushby arrived at his mother’s home in Hull on 2 November 2026, completing a 28-year journey. The 57-year-old former soldier travelled 50,000 kilometres across four continents. Up to 1,000 people welcomed him in the city centre before he reached her home.
Bushby left Punta Arenas, Chile, in November 1998, expecting the journey to take 12 years. His rules were to avoid using transport to make progress and to return home on foot. However, visa problems, difficult weather and the pandemic caused major delays. Getting through Russia took almost ten years.
Some sections required swimming rather than walking. When political problems blocked routes through Russia and Iran, he spent 31 days crossing the Caspian Sea. He used a flotation vest to help him stay on the surface. In early October, he swam across the English Channel to reach Britain.
Bushby reunited with his mother, Angela, and returned to his family, including his 36-year-old son, Adam. He also met his 12-year-old granddaughter for the first time. Thanking those who had supported him, he described the journey as a global effort. Strangers had offered meals, shelter and care, including a doctor’s family in Peru who helped him recover from a stomach infection.
