in-cyprus 9 November 2025
An incredible journey of a lifetime is nearing its end for the British explorer Karl Bushby, who set out in November 1998 with the goal of connecting South America to northeastern England—by foot or by swimming.
After 27 years of adventures, dangers, and continuous movement, Bushby, now 55, is in Hungary, approximately 145 kilometres south of Budapest, approaching the end of the route that has spanned almost three decades.
On November 1, 1998, this former British Army paratrooper began the “Goliath Expedition” from Punta Arenas, Chile – the southernmost tip of the American continent – with the ambition of returning home to the community of Hull, in northeastern England… without using any means of transport. He did everything by walking or swimming.
“I am nearing the goal,” he admitted with a smile. “I think I will reach the French coast, the English Channel, in September 2026, roughly…” he estimated.
“Why did I start all this, twenty-seven years ago? That is really the big question… It was a challenge, if I have to summarise it. A challenge that was born when I was in the army, constantly talking about theoretical distances, about how far we could go,” the 56-year-old recalled, continuing:
“I drew a line on a map, passing through the Bering Strait and connecting different continents, and it was impressive. When everyone started telling me it wasn’t something I could do, I told myself, yes, I can.”
Crossing the Caspian Sea
Bushby learned that over all these years, he has covered a route exceeding 56,000 kilometres. “I suspected it would be more than that. But I couldn’t imagine all the difficulties that awaited me. Visa prohibitions, the economic crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic. Everything that, eventually, slowed me down,” he said.
Starting with enthusiasm and $500 in his pocket, Bushby managed to survive, making ends meet as best he could in Latin America.
Financially, things could have quickly become difficult, but once he reached the US, his story attracted attention, putting a spotlight on him. “I already had plenty of stories to share,” he explained. “People took me seriously, companies were ready to start with me.”
Since then, the adventurer has been able to rely on sponsors and the writing of a book to push the project even further. This support, along with that of his family and the company of other athletes who occasionally covered part of the route alongside him, prompts him to clarify: “The Goliath Expedition is a collective effort…”
The Geopolitical Problems He Encountered
In any case, it was not just a physical effort. The explorer constantly encountered geopolitical obstacles. Russia, specifically, denied him a visa twice, even forcing him, in 2013, to make a detour of almost 5,000 kilometres to protest (and be vindicated) at the Russian embassy in Washington.
In 2018, he was detained by Chinese police before reaching an agreement that allowed him to continue his journey. In 2024, this time, he was forced to swim across the Caspian Sea to get from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, without passing through Russia or Iran, amid tensions in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. It took him 31 days and 132 hours of swimming to complete the 288-kilometre route, resting on support vessels, as he told British radio.
A feat he may need to repeat, in some way, next year, if he is not allowed to pass through the Channel Tunnel and must, this time, dive into the cold waters of the Strait of Dover (Pas-de-Calais), as he has already announced to the BBC.
Fortunately, beautiful stories and breathtaking landscapes marked these twenty-seven years of the mission. “There are many good memories,” Karl Bushby confirms. “In the early days, in South America, I was young, it was the start of the adventure, and I look at that time with particular affection. Furthermore, I have had so many incredible encounters over the years. Also, every time you face something truly difficult and you still manage it, it is a success, a truly great moment.”
The explorer also considers himself quite “lucky.” “One day, it’s true, in the Patagonian desert, I stabbed a knife into my wrist and bled a lot, it was perhaps the injury that could have been the most dangerous to my life,” he admits. “But that was so long ago…”
What He Will Do Once His Mission Is Complete
Considering all these adventures, his stay in Hungary seems quite “peaceful” to him for now. This allows him to think about the coming months, when he will finally have reached the goal he set. “I won’t start another mission like this; it was truly the adventure of a lifetime,” he confesses. “But I have other passions, other interests: science, education, commitment to the younger generations. I think I will turn towards those. Yes, that is probably what I will dedicate the rest of my life to, once I return home.”
(information from iefimerida.gr)
