British Veteran Completes 28-Year Global Expedition with English Channel Swim

British Army veteran Karl Bushby has returned to his home country after a 28-year journey across four continents, marking a significant milestone by swimming the English Channel. Bushby, a 57-year-old former paratrooper, reached England on October 5 after a multi-day swim from France, completing another leg of an expedition he began in 1998.

He now faces a final trek of approximately 250 miles to his mother's home in Hull, a port city in northeast England, whom he has not seen in 11 years. Bushby's journey, known as the Goliath Expedition, adheres to two strict rules: he cannot use any form of transportation and he will not return home until the circumnavigation is complete.

Bushby began his expedition from Chile on November 1, 1998. His route has spanned over 30,000 miles and 29 countries. Along the way, he navigated challenging terrains such as the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia and crossed the frozen Bering Strait on foot between Alaska and Russia in 2006. He also undertook an 184-mile swim across the Caspian Sea before continuing his journey westward toward Europe.

The swim across the English Channel was undertaken after Bushby's request to use the Channel Tunnel's service tunnel was denied due to safety and maintenance concerns. He described the swim as physically demanding, with cramps setting in early, but found solace in observing the night sky. "You're far away from light pollution and have the whole night sky in front of you," Bushby stated. "It gave me something to think about and took my mind off the pain and aches. It was amazing."

The expedition faced numerous delays over the years, including visa restrictions, loss of sponsors during the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 lockdowns, and geopolitical instability. Bushby initially set out with only $500 and no sponsors, funding his journey through book sales, speaking engagements, donations, and corporate sponsorships. A documentary production company has also supported his efforts for the past 16 years.

Bushby is expected to arrive in Hull in early November to finally reunite with his mother, completing a journey that began nearly three decades ago. "I walked away from that place 28 years ago and that is where we are going to wrap it up," he said of his hometown. "That’s about 400 kilometers from here, so I’ve got to get busy."