Who is Karl Bushby? The former British Army paratrooper who spent 28 years walking 50,000 km through 29 countries to finally make his way home

Karl Bushby has returned to Britain after 28 years of walking, swimming and navigating extreme conditions around the world. He reached Shakespeare Beach near Dover on October 5, 2026, after swimming the English Channel over three days in a wetsuit. The Goliath Expedition covered roughly 50,000 kilometres across about 29 countries, and Bushby still has around 400 kilometres left to reach his mother’s home in Hull, expected in November 2026. Born March 30, 1969, in Hull, he joined the British Army at 16 and served with the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment for about 11 to 12 years. His route included the frozen Bering Strait in 2006 and later a 31-day Caspian Sea swim in 2024.