British Army Veteran Completes 28-Year Journey Across Four Continents

<p>Karl Bushby, a 57-year-old British Army veteran, has returned to England after a 28-year journey across four continents. He swam across the English Channel from France, reaching Shakespeare Beach near Dover on October 5, marking a significant milestone in his around-the-world expedition that began in 1998.</p><p>After swimming for approximately 20 hours over three days, Bushby has about 250 miles left to walk before reuniting with his mother, whom he has not seen in 11 years.</p><p>During the swim, Bushby experienced cramping and doubts about completing the crossing, but he persevered. He stated, "Getting in the water that first day, I thought, 'Have I taken too much of a bite here?' But you dig deep. Keep on keeping on. You find a rhythm."</p><p>Bushby’s expedition covers more than 30,000 miles and includes travel through 29 countries. He set out from Chile on November 1, 1998, with two rules: he would not use any form of transportation such as planes, trains, boats, or cars, and he would not return home until he completed his journey.</p><p>His route included traversing South America, North America, and crossing the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. Notably, he trekked through the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia and crossed the frozen Bering Strait on foot in 2006.</p><p>Recently, he swam approximately 184 miles across the Caspian Sea before heading west toward Europe. His journey faced various delays due to visa restrictions, loss of sponsors during the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 lockdowns, and geopolitical issues.</p><p>Bushby began his expedition with $500 and no sponsors, relying on book sales, speaking engagements, donations, and corporate sponsorships. A documentary production company has supported him for the past 16 years.</p><p>Initially, he hoped to enter England through the Channel Tunnel's service tunnel, but his request was denied due to safety concerns, leading him to swim instead. During the swim, he found solace in floating on his back and stargazing, which helped distract him from physical discomfort.</p><p>He is expected to arrive in Hull, where he will reunite with his mother in early November. Bushby remarked, "I walked away from that place 28 years ago and that is where we are going to wrap it up. That’s about 400 kilometers from here, so I’ve got to get busy."</p>