Karl Bushby

Walking adventurer, author and former paratrooper

British Hull, England Aries

Quick Info

ProfessionWalking adventurer, author and former paratrooper
NationalityBritish
Date of Birth30/03/1969
Age57 years
BirthplaceHull, England
Zodiac SignAries

Latest News about Karl Bushby

31/10/2026

Reports say Karl Bushby is close to finishing his walk, with a planned crossing of the Humber Bridge accompanied by his father and brother. He is expected to reach Hull city centre shortly after, and his target is to arrive at his mother's home on 1 November 2026.

05/10/2026

Karl Bushby swam the English Channel and came ashore at Shakespeare Beach near Dover, ending his 28-year walk from Chile on British soil. He had not secured permission to walk the Channel Tunnel service tunnel, so he took to the water instead. About 400 km of walking remained to reach his mother's home in Hull.

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Bio/Wiki

SummaryKarl Bushby is an English walking adventurer, author and former paratrooper who set out in 1998 to walk around the world without using any motorised transport. His Goliath Expedition began in Punta Arenas, Chile, and is aimed at returning to his home city of Hull.
Current StatusIn early October 2026 he swam the English Channel and reached British soil near Dover, with roughly 240 miles of walking left to reach Hull. He is aiming to arrive at his mother's home in Hull around 1 November 2026, the anniversary of his departure from Chile.

Personal Life

LifestyleHas spent more than 27 years on the road, living on the expedition and walking roughly 30 kilometres a day.
RulesHe may only walk or swim and must not return home to Hull until he arrives entirely on foot.

Relationships & More

Partner
  • Catalina Estrada, whom he met while travelling in Colombia
  • the couple had separated by 2011.

Family

SonAdam
MotherAngela Bushby
BrotherAdrian

Career

Military ServiceJoined the army at age 16 and served with the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, for about 11 to 12 years before leaving in 1998.
Goliath ExpeditionBegan on 1 November 1998 from Punta Arenas, Chile, with the aim of an unbroken walk around the world from the southern tip of South America back to England.
Notable MilestonesCrossed the Darien Gap, walked the Bering Strait sea ice to Siberia with Dimitri Kieffer, walked across the United States, and became the first person to swim the Caspian Sea.
Recent DevelopmentsSwam the English Channel in October 2026 after failing to secure permission to walk the Channel Tunnel service tunnel, and is now completing the final stretch on foot to Hull.
DocumentarySubject of the National Geographic special The Walk Around the World and a feature-length documentary titled Walk of Life.

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. He began the expedition with about $500 in his pocket and basic survival gear.
2. He carried a rifle during the Bering Strait crossing in case of polar bears.
3. He has written about his journey in a book titled Giant Steps.
4. He has said he is not a strong swimmer and does not enjoy swimming.
5. His walk was once halted by a five-year Russian visa ban after he had walked nearly 2,000 miles through Siberia.

Also born on 30 March

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