Karl Bushby: Yorkshire adventurer back in UK after swimming English Channel on 28-year journey home

Yorkshire adventurer Karl Bushby has returned to the UK after swimming the English Channel – 28 years after setting out on his extraordinary journey around the world.

The former British Army paratrooper reached the UK on Monday (Oct 5) after spending 20 hours in the water over three days as he tackled one of the final obstacles of his Goliath Expedition.

Karl set out from Punta Arenas, Chile, on November 1, 1998, with the goal of making his way back to his mother's home in Hull along one continuous route without using transport to make forward progress.

Standing on a UK beach after completing the Channel crossing, in a video on social media, Karl said: "So, October fifth, 2026. You are looking at Karl Bushby on the beaches of the United Kingdom.

"We just swam the English Channel and I am now back here in the United Kingdom. 20 hours in the water over the last three days. And that's got me here to these beaches in the UK."

But despite finally setting foot on British soil, Karl's extraordinary journey is not yet complete.

He now has around 400km still to travel before reaching his mother's home in Hull, where his expedition will officially come to an end.

Karl said: "I've got to get to my mother's house in Hull. I walked away from that place 28 years ago and that's where we're going to wrap it up.

"And that's about 400km from here. So I got to get busy, I've got to get back on the road. We've got to get moving now."

The Goliath Expedition has taken Karl across four continents and included a crossing of the frozen Bering Strait, with his rules preventing him from using transport to advance along his route.

His son Adam Bushby, 36, previously told The Yorkshire Post that the prospect of his father finally returning after 28 years "doesn't seem real".

Following his father's arrival back in the UK, Adam said: "This was just another obstacle in which we all knew he could do.

"Now the real final stretch begins this is it. A 28 year mission will come to an end."

Adam plans to be waiting with his grandmother outside her home when Karl completes the final stretch of his journey.

Karl said after reaching the UK: "Karl's home, 28 years later, but he's home. It's a special day.

"Thanks to everybody in the world that made this possible. All I've got to say man is we made it."