In 1998, Karl Bushby left Chile to walk to his hometown in England; 28 years later, he had reached Britain with about 400 km left to go
Karl Bushby walked more than 50,000 kilometres across four continents since leaving Chile in 1998. After swimming the English Channel, he reached British soil.
In 1998, Karl Bushby embarked on a remarkable journey from Punta Arenas, Chile, with the goal of walking to his hometown of Hull, England. He adhered to two strict rules: no transportation and no turning back until he reached his destination. Nearly three decades later, Bushby reached British soil on October 5, 2026, having only about 400 kilometers left to walk to Hull.
Inspired by a birthday card from his father, Bushby's plan involved traveling from London to New York on foot via the Bering Strait, an idea he expanded into a journey from the southern tip of South America to his hometown. Over the course of his expedition, Bushby traversed 29 countries and covered more than 50,000 kilometers, including treacherous sections like the Darién Gap and the Bering Strait, where he crossed over sea ice on foot.
Bushby's journey was not without its challenges. Financial difficulties, denied travel visas, and political obstacles forced him to adapt his route multiple times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced another significant interruption. When a land route into Europe became impractical in 2024, Bushby opted to swim across the Caspian Sea from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan.
Despite the final leg of his journey being the most arduous, Bushby persevered, swimming across the English Channel to reach Shakespeare Beach near Dover on October 5, 2026. However, his path to Hull was not yet complete. With approximately 400 kilometers remaining, Bushby is determined to finish the expedition, marking 28 years since he left Chile.
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