Get you up to speed: Adventurer Karl Bushby arrives home in UK after 28-year walk from South America | News World
Karl Bushby, 57, returned to Hull, England, on 2 November 2026, after completing a 28-year walk from South America. He was welcomed by crowds and received congratulations from local officials, including Hull East MP Karl Turner and the Lord Mayor.
Karl Bushby’s journey covered approximately 31,000 miles and included crossings of the Darien Gap and the Bering Strait. He last visited his mother’s home in 1998, marking a significant personal milestone upon his return.
Karl Bushby received a warm welcome upon his return, with Hull’s Lord Mayor, Maria Coward, and Hull East MP Karl Turner praising his extraordinary journey and reading a commendation from Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Following a civic reception, Mr Bushby plans to spend time with his family and reflect on his 28-year adventure.
What remains unclear — The details surrounding Karl Bushby’s final preparations before his homecoming are not specified.
Karl Bushby returns to UK after 28-year walk from South America
Adventurer Karl Bushby arrived back in his home town after his 28-year walk from South America, with his mother asking: “Where have you been?”
Mr Bushby, now 57, was mobbed by well-wishers as he walked into the city centre on Monday, pushing his cart called The Beast.
And there were more emotional scenes when he turned up at his childhood home in the Sutton Park area of the city to be greeted by his mother, Angela, with a hug.
The first thing Mrs Bushby said to her son was: ‘Where have you been?’
Mr Bushby said: ‘Where have I been? Twenty-eight years later. Here we are.’
He then told the well-wishers and reporters: ‘I’m going to get myself a cup of tea.’
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The former paratrooper, now 57, set off from the southern end of Chile in 1998, when he was 28, vowing to walk all the way home without using any form of motorised transport.
He was mobbed and cheered as he walked into Queen Victoria Square wheeling his cart, before telling the crowd: ‘There has never been a welcome home quite like this, I’m sure.
‘This is absolute madness. After 28 years, you couldn’t ask for more than this. This is the last, last few steps.’
After 28 years, he’s finally returned home (Picture: EPA)
Karl was greeted by tonnes of locals cheering him on (Picture: EPA)
Bushby was greeted by the Lord Mayor and Hull East MP Karl Turner, who read out a message of congratulations from Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
He went inside for a civic reception before he embarked on the final leg of his 31,000-mile journey – the three miles to his mother’s house, in the north of the city, which he last visited in 1998.
Throughout his journey, he crossed the notorious Darien Gap in Central America and traversed the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia on the frozen sea.
Bushby arrived back in England earlier this month, announcing that he had swum the Channel.
He told the crowd: ‘Twenty-eight years… I could not have imagined this. One last enormous thank you, guys. Just an enormous thank you.’
What was life like in 1998 when Karl set off on his epic journey?
Tony Blair was the prime minister of the UK.
Cher’s Believe hit number one on the UK charts on October 25.
France won the World Cup beating Brazil 3-0 in the final in July.
David Beckham was public enemy number one after being sent off against Argentina in the same tournament.
The euro became official currency in 11 countries on December 31.
Geri Halliwell left the Spice Girls in May.
Google was founded on September 8.
He said: ‘I guess I’ll be seeing you around. I’ll be knocking about for a while, I guess. I didn’t do this alone. It was a big team. The biggest team – Earth. That’s what it took to get me back.’
Lord Mayor of Hull Maria Coward told Bushby: ‘For 28 years – 10,229 days – Hull has been waiting for your return. Hull is proud of you. I’m proud of you. Everyone’s proud of you.’
Turner read Burnham’s message of congratulations, which said: ‘To walk around the world from Chile and back again is an achievement of truly remarkable proportions. It speaks of courage, resilience, perseverance and unbreakable spirit.’
The Prime Minister’s statement also thanked Bushby for his service to the country as a soldier.
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