Karl Bushby Completes 28-Year Walk Around the World and Returns Home
When Karl Bushby reached his mother’s house in Hull, England, on Nov. 2, 2026, she greeted him with a question: “Where have you been?” After nearly three decades of travel, the 57-year-old former paratrooper had finally made it home. A banner reading “Welcome Home Son” hung outside the family home as Angela Bushby embraced her […]
On November 2, 2026, Karl Bushby returned home to Hull, England, after a 28-year journey spanning four continents and 30 countries. Upon arriving at his mother's house, Angela Bushby asked her son, "Where have you been?" A welcome banner displayed outside the home read, "Welcome Home Son." The former paratrooper had embarked on the Goliath Expedition in 1998, walking 50,000 kilometers (31,000 miles) under human power, reaching his destination after enduring numerous challenges.
One of the expedition's most perilous moments came in 2000-2001 when Bushby traversed the Darien Gap, a dense rainforest and mountainous region between Colombia and Panama, notorious for its dangerous conditions, including involvement of armed groups. Disguised as a vagrant, he navigated the jungle, sometimes floating down rivers, and endured gunpoint encounters.
Another significant obstacle was crossing the Bering Strait into Russia in 2006, encountering shifting sea ice, equipment losses, and a polar bear. Russian visa restrictions and the 2008 financial crisis further delayed his progress, ultimately culminating in a swim across the English Channel in 2026. Bushby's return to Hull marked the conclusion of his epic journey and the beginning of a new chapter, allowing him to reunite with family, including his first meeting with his 12-year-old granddaughter.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
