British man who has been walking around the world for 28 years finally arrives back in UK

He's dealt with huge issues over his near 30 year journey

A British man who set off on his journey home from Chile in 1998 finally set foot back in the UK this week after swimming the English Channel.

Karl Bushby lived out the dream of many Gen Z'ers who want to quit their job and travel, by setting himself the mission of returning to his home in Hull on foot, using no methods of mechanical transport in the process.

We've seen some pretty crazy challenges online in recent years, whether it's the Hardest Geezer running the length of Africa, or an Aussie woman tackling the length of her home nation on foot, but none can compare with the 28-year journey that Bushby has set himself.

But despite challenges over that 29 years which have included the Coronavirus pandemic and a near-death experience following a polar bear attack, it largely seems to be a challenge that Bushby has enjoyed rather than endured.

Speaking to CBS News last year, the 56-year-old Brit said: "I've found nothing but the best in those 27 years, which has just been remarkable.

"Don't be afraid, get off the couch, get out of bed, make it happen. That first step will open up a world of possibilities and opportunities, so don't be afraid."

And although he hoped to complete the last leg of his journey home through the English Channel on foot, an agreement couldn't be agreed, so he ended up swimming for over 20 hours across three days in order to land back on the British beaches.

Bushby said: "[It] feels good to have UK soil under my feet after all these years. It hasn't been easy, and that's part of the point; proving I'm more capable than I give myself credit for."

He added: "All of us can accomplish more than we will ever imagine."

HM Coastguard said it 'liaised with French authorities and maritime sector partners to ensure safety protocols were met', after Bushby's initial request to walk down the Channel Tunnel was vetoed.

It is now expected that Bushby will return to his home in Hull in early November as he completes the final leg of his journey after landing on the beaches in Dover, which will almost make it 28 years to the day since he left South America on 1 November 1998.

His journey has taken him across 28 different countries and seen him travel over 30,000 miles but when he spoke from Belgium earlier this year, it seems as if his legs and his body had finally had enough, as he's no doubt desperate to get home and put his feet up with a cup of tea and a biscuit.

He's certainly timed his return home well, as he will get to watch Premier League teams get mauled by the tigers in his home town of Hull.

Jimmy is a NCTJ Gold Standard journalist covering a wide range of topics and news stories for LADbible. After two years in football writing, Jimmy switched to covering news with Newsquest in Cumbria, before joining the LAD team in 2025. Jimmy has also been published in the Mirror, Football.London and has freelanced with Manchester United. In his spare time, Jimmy is a long-suffering Rochdale fan and loves reading, running and music.

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