Karl Bushby,a 57-year-old former paratrooper, has received French approval to swim the English Channel. This final stretch completes a 28-year journey on foot that started in Chile in 1998.
The 30,516-mile trek from Chile to Hull
Karl Bushby has spent nearly three decades adhering to a strict set of self-imposed rules, forbidding himself from using any motorized transport to reach his home city of Hull, East Yorkshire. According to the report, the former British paratrooper has covered more than 30,516 miles, navigating through South, Central, and North America before eventually reaching Europe and Belgium on foot.
This expedition represents one of the most ambitious walking challenges in history. By eschewing planes, trains, and cars, Karl Bushby has turned a global transit into a grueling test of physical and mental endurance, making the final crossing from France to the United Kingdom the only remaining obstacle in his path.
Overcoming the 2018 prefectoral order and Eurotunnel's refusal
The final leg of the journey was nearly derailed by bureaucratic hurdles and safety regulations. As the report says, Eurotunnel executives denied Karl Bushby's request to walk through the service tunnel accompanying the main Channel Tunnel, citing potential disruptions to maintenance and risks to passengers.
Furthermore, French officials initially blocked the swim based on a 2018 prefectoral order.. This specific regulation restricted English Channel swims to those traveling from the United Kingdom toward France, effectively banning the reverse route Karl Bushby required. It took months of negotiations by a Los Angeles-based support team to secure the necessary clearance from the French Coast Guard.
From the Bering Strait to the 186-mile Caspian swim
Karl Bushby's current challenge is the culmination of several high-risk feats. He was the first Briton to cross the frozen Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, a 58-mile journey that required swimming through broken ice . he also successfully navigated the Darién Gap, a notoriously dangerous wilderness stretch connecting Colombia and Panama.
More recently, in 2024, Karl Bushby swam approximately 186 miles across the Caspian Sea. This detour was a strategic necessity to avoid entering Russia or Iran, reflecting the geopolitical tensions that have complicated his route through Eurasia over the last few years.
The risk of an October 1 start without specific Channel training
Despite his extensive experience in open water, Karl Bushby admitted that he has not had time to train specifically for the English Channel's unique conditions . the former paratrooper explained that his energy has been consumed by the "rigmarole" of securing visas and coordinating his re-entry into the United Kingdom.
Karl Bushby expects to enter the water on October 1, provided the weather and tides are favorable. The swim is projected to take three to four days, with the adventurer resting on a support boat between sessions. If successful, Karl Bushby aims to be greeted by his mother, Angela, at their family home in Hull by November 1.
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