Karl Bushby completes 28-year, 50,000-km walk from Chile to Hull

British adventurer Karl Bushby, 57, completed a 28-year, 50,000-kilometre continuous walk from Punta Arenas, Chile, to his home in Hull, England, on 2 November 2026, becoming the first person to walk unbroken across the world. The former paratrooper set out in November 1998 at age 29 with two self-imposed rules: not to use motorised transport to advance and not to return to the UK until the journey was complete. His route spanned four continents and 29 countries, crossing the Darién Gap, the frozen Bering Strait, the Caspian Sea (via a swimming technique he termed "floatimming"), and the English Channel.

Bushby faced extraordinary obstacles throughout the expedition. He navigated visa complications across Russia—taking nearly a decade to traverse the country—geopolitical closures that forced him to swim the Caspian Sea instead of traverse it by land, and border restrictions that resulted in detention and accusations of espionage. The COVID-19 pandemic, global financial crisis of 2007, and weather constraints further extended the timeline. Of the 28 years elapsed, only approximately 15 were spent actively walking; the remainder involved waiting in Mexico and the United States—where living costs were lower—for visa approvals and seasonal travel windows. Early in the journey, he was jailed for 18 days in Panama and later faced deportation from Russia after illegally entering with American adventurer Dimitry Kieffer during the Bering Strait crossing in 2006.

Upon arrival in Hull, Bushby received an unprecedented welcome. Crowds of up to 1,000 people gathered in Queen Victoria Square as the Lord Mayor Maria Coward and local officials greeted him. He crossed the Humber Bridge on 1 November 2026—the same date he had departed 28 years earlier—and completed the final miles to his childhood home in Sutton Park. There he reunited with his mother Angela, 75, whom he had not seen in a decade. He also met his son Adam, now 36, and his granddaughter, age 12, whom he had never previously met. A separate reunion with his father and brothers occurred at the Humber Bridge. Bushby announced his retirement from adventuring at a subsequent press conference.

Filmmaker Werner Herzog documented the event, overseeing final scenes for a feature documentary on the expedition. Bushby confirmed he is working on a second book about his travels. Prime Minister Andy Burnham sent a message of congratulation. Bushby told media that only approximately 15 of the 28 years were spent actively walking, attributing delays to visa issues, economic hardship, pandemic lockdowns, and geopolitical obstacles. He acknowledged the emotional toll of family separation and said he was "still processing" the reality of being home after half a lifetime on the road.