British adventurer Karl Bushby has received final permission from French authorities to swim across the English Channel, enabling him to conclude a 28-year, 36,000-mile journey that began in Chile. Bushby, 57, a former paratrooper from Hull, England, aims to begin the swim on October 1, weather and tides permitting, with an expected duration of three to four days.
The adventurer was previously denied consent by the French Coast Guard to make the crossing. His team had also been in discussions with Eurotunnel, but their request for Bushby to use a service tunnel was declined due to safety and operational concerns. French officials had also cited a 2018 prefectoral order that, as interpreted, only permits swimming the Channel from the UK to France.
Bushby set off from Chile in 1998 and has since traveled approximately 30,516 miles on foot, including expeditions across the Bering Strait and the Darién Gap. He is unable to use conventional transport as part of his self-imposed challenge to reach his home city of Hull. He stated that securing visas and gaining permission for the final leg of his journey have been the most challenging aspects of the expedition.
Bushby has previously undertaken long-distance swims, including an 186-mile crossing of the Caspian Sea in 2024 to avoid entering Russia or Iran due to geopolitical tensions. However, he noted that he has had insufficient time to train for the English Channel swim, as he has been occupied with logistical planning.
His team has been in close talks with French authorities to finalize the plan. Bushby anticipates resting on a support boat between swimming sessions. He expressed pleasure that the plan is progressing, emphasizing his goal to "get the job done and getting home alive."
Bushby's mother has stated she will greet him at her home upon his arrival. He aims to be back in Hull by November 1, concluding an odyssey that began nearly three decades ago.
