Former paratrooper Karl Bushby has returned to his hometown of Hull after an unprecedented 28-year odyssey that saw him walk continuously across the globe. The 57-year-old arrived on Monday to a hero's welcome, completing a journey that began in 1998 when he left the army at age 29 with the initial intention of walking for just 12 years.
Bushby has become the first person to walk continuously across the world, covering 36,000 miles through 29 countries. His route took him from Punta Arenas in Chile, the southernmost city on the South American continent, all the way back to Hull. Along the way, he traversed four continents, crossed a frozen sea, and navigated deserts, jungles, and mountains. He adhered to two strict rules throughout the expedition: he would not return home until the feat was fully completed, and he would not use any form of transport to advance his journey.
The voyage was fraught with peril. Bushby recounted facing down polar bears, being threatened at gunpoint, and navigating the notorious Darién Gap in Central America. He also crossed the frozen sea of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, where he was convicted of espionage, held in custody, and sentenced to deportation. Despite these challenges, he maintained his course, eventually crossing the Humber Bridge on Sunday, the same date he originally set off.
Upon his arrival in Queen Victoria Square, Bushby was surrounded by television cameras, a Sky News helicopter, and a crowd of well-wishers. He expressed disbelief at the reception, noting that there had never been a welcome quite like this. Pushing through the throngs of people with his heavily loaded trolley, dubbed "Beast 2," he carried essentials including medicine, sleeping bags, headtorches, and two worn tires.
About three miles away, Bushby's mother, Angela, 75, waited at the gate of his childhood home. After a tearful embrace, they exchanged remarks on how much time had passed. He was then reunited inside the house with his 36-year-old son and met his 12-year-old granddaughter for the first time.
Earlier in the day, Bushby addressed the crowd from a makeshift stage, crediting the kindness of strangers and governments for helping him complete the journey. "It took a world to get me here," he said, describing it as a global effort involving the biggest team: Earth. He noted that creating two world records was necessary just to return home.
German filmmaker Werner Herzog appeared on stage alongside Bushby, overseeing scenes for his documentary on the 28-year odyssey. Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East, delivered a message from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who congratulated Bushby on his "truly remarkable" feat and thanked him for his service as a paratrooper. Burnham's statement highlighted that Bushby brought back a story of extraordinary determination and self-belief rather than just a world record.
Before heading to lunch and then to his mother's house, Bushby offered a final message to the city he left in 1998: "I guess I'll be seeing you around."
Sources: The Guardian World.