Karl Bushby, a British adventurer, has returned to the United Kingdom after completing an extraordinary 50,000-kilometre journey on foot that spanned 28 years. Beginning in November 1998 from Punta Arenas, Chile, Bushby vowed to reach his mother’s home near Hull in northern England without using any form of transport, including planes, trains, boats, or vehicles.

On Monday afternoon, Bushby crossed the final stretch by swimming across the English Channel from France to southeast England, after obtaining the necessary permissions from UK and French authorities. This crossing marked his official return to British soil, though his ultimate goal remains to reach his mother’s house near Hull.

Bushby said in a statement released Tuesday that it felt good to be back on UK soil after nearly three decades. He reflected on the challenges faced during his journey and the personal growth that came with overcoming them, emphasizing that everyone is capable of achieving more than they expect.

The journey has not been continuous. Bushby encountered several interruptions, including a prolonged visa denial by Russian authorities, the global financial crisis in 2008, and the COVID-19 pandemic. During these periods, he paused his trek and lived abroad—most notably in Mexico—resuming the walk at the same locations where he had left off once circumstances allowed.

Upon completing the channel swim, he was warmly welcomed on Shakespeare Beach, just south of Dover, by a small group of friends and family members, including his father and brothers. Among those greeting him was renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog, who is directing a feature-length documentary titled “Walk of Life,” which chronicles Bushby’s journey. Herzog’s production company has supported Bushby for the last 16 years, providing financial and logistical aid as well as helping to document the expedition.

Bushby’s walk has encompassed traversing the length of both North and South America, crossing the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia on foot, and then traveling overland across Eurasia from east to west. As he prepares to reintegrate into everyday life in Britain, Bushby expressed some apprehension about returning to a conventional lifestyle, noting he expects to arrive home “with nothing” and will need to adjust to “the grown-up world” once again.