Across 29 countries: walked non-stop for 28 years to reach the unknown

Karl Bushby, a 57-year-old former British paratrooper, returned to British soil on October 5, 2026, after a 28-year continuous walk across 29 countries without using any transportation. The journey began in 1998 from Chile, included crossing the Darien Gap, encountering a polar bear, being arrested in Russia, and swimming the English Channel. He still has about 400 km left to reach his mother's home.

Karl Bushby, a 57-year-old former British paratrooper, returned to British soil on October 5, 2026, after an unprecedented 28-year walk. The journey, called 'Expedition Goliath', began on November 1, 1998, from Punta Arenas in southern Chile, with Bushby holding only a few hundred dollars and setting two rules: avoid using any transportation and not return home until he made it on his own. Along the way, he crossed 29 countries, faced armed groups in the Darien Gap, encountered a polar bear while crossing the Bering Strait, was arrested in Russia on suspicion of espionage, and swam for about 20 hours across the English Channel. Despite his return, he still has about 400 kilometers to walk to his mother's home in Hull, and he hopes to complete the distance in early November 2026, near the 28-year anniversary of his start. Bushby expressed concerns about transitioning to normal life, including finding a job and rebuilding family relationships.