Karl Bushby returns to Britain after 28 years

Karl Bushby, a 57-year-old former British paratrooper, emerged from the English Channel onto Shakespeare Beach near Dover on October 5, 2026, completing a grueling three-day swim that marked his return to British soil after 28 years on a journey around the world.

From Southern Chile to the English Channel

Bushby left Punta Arenas in southern Chile on November 1, 1998, carrying $500 and a commitment to travel to his mother’s home in England without utilizing any transport to advance his route. The undertaking, named the Goliath Expedition, was sparked by a greeting card from his father, Keith, a former member of Britain’s Special Air Service, who had discussed the concept of walking from London to New York via the Bering Strait.

Over the decades, the route forced him through extreme terrain and geopolitical hurdles. He crossed the Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama, and in 2006, he crossed the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, an entry that resulted in his temporary arrest for entering Russian territory without authorization. Visa restrictions, funding shortfalls, and the COVID-19 pandemic further stretched the timeline.

In 2024, Bushby faced the Caspian Sea, completing a 31-day swim from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan that involved more than 130 hours in the water. That crossing was meant to be his final aquatic hurdle, but reaching Britain presented fresh administrative roadblocks.

Authorities Grant Bushby Permission to Cross the Channel

Bushby planned to enter Britain by walking through the service tunnel of the Channel Tunnel, but the tunnel operator rejected the request in June, citing safety and operational concerns. French authorities also withhold permission for organized Channel swims departing from France toward Britain, leaving his route blocked by one of its shortest geographical gaps.

In early September, Bushby announced he had secured approval to make the crossing, though arrangements remained unfinalized weeks later. Permission was eventually granted in coordination with authorities and the coast guard.

He entered the water wearing a wetsuit with minimal preparation, admitting to the BBC that he had completed no physical training beyond checking that his gear still fit. The crossing spanned three days, during which he spent approximately 20 hours swimming, using a wetsuit and flotation equipment while resting aboard a support boat between sessions.

German filmmaker Werner Herzog documented the arrival on Shakespeare Beach as part of an upcoming film project about the expedition. Bushby emerged to find his father, brother, and friends waiting on the shore.

The Personal Toll of a Lifelong Trek

While the physical geography shaped the route, the human cost remained the heaviest burden. In an interview with ynetnews.com in November 2025, Bushby noted that the greatest toll of the journey was the loss of personal relationships.

When Bushby departed in 1998, his son Adam was eight years old. Adam, now 36, is a father himself, leaving Bushby with a granddaughter he has yet to meet. His mother, Angela, has not seen him since 2015, saving a Christmas gift every year in anticipation of his return.

Bushby now faces a 400-kilometer walk north to Hull to reach his mother’s home, pushing the equipment cart that accompanied him throughout the expedition. He aims to finish the journey in late October or early November, coinciding with the 28th anniversary of his departure from Chile.