10/10/2026
BRITISH ADVENTURER FINALLY RETURNS HOME AFTER 28 YEARS WALKING AROUND THE WORLD
A former British paratrooper who set out to walk around the world almost three decades ago has finally returned to British soil, bringing one of the most extraordinary journeys of human determination closer to its end.
Karl Bushby began his incredible Goliath Expedition in November 1998, leaving Punta Arenas in southern Chile with an ambitious goal: to travel around the globe without using transport to move himself forward.
What he originally expected to take around 12 years has stretched into 28, testing his physical endurance, patience and determination at every stage.
Throughout the expedition, Karl has faced scorching deserts, dense jungles, dangerous terrain and some of the world's most challenging border crossings. His route has also been disrupted by visa complications, political tensions, border closures and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the most remarkable chapters was his crossing of the frozen Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. He later faced another extraordinary challenge when he swam across the Caspian Sea after difficulties with available land routes threatened to derail his progress.
Now, after travelling thousands of miles across continents, Karl has reached the United Kingdom.
He arrived near Dover after swimming across the English Channel from France, marking a major milestone in an expedition that has consumed much of his adult life.
However, the adventure is not quite over.
Karl still faces the final walk towards Hull, where his mother is waiting for him. After years of travelling through unfamiliar countries and overcoming obstacles that might have ended the expedition, his destination is now closer than ever.
For many people, walking around the world would remain an impossible dream. For Karl, it became a lifelong mission that demanded extraordinary sacrifice and resilience.
His journey is about far more than the distance covered. It is a story of refusing to give up, even when the finish line seemed impossibly far away.
After 28 years on the road, the final destination could be the most emotional of all: home, family and his mother's front door.