‘Hardest Geezer’ becomes the first person to run the entire length of Africa
Russ Cook has become the first person to run the entire length of Africa.
For the past year, Cook - aka the 'Hardest Geezer' - has been pounding the pavement, dirt, sand, pretty much anywhere he could through over a dozen countries.
Having set off from from the southern tip of South Africa in April 2023, he has now completed his mammoth 16,000km+ journey.
Followed by dozens of his fans, who have followed his journey online, Cook crossed the line at Ras Angela in Tunisia today (7 April) and was greeted by celebratory chants of 'geezer, geezer, geezer' once he made it over the line.
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He then made his way into the Mediterranean for a quick dip before telling Sky News he was 'a little bit tired' and saying he was going to 'f**k off'.
Russ has an afterparty all lined up and what he's really been looking forward to is a strawberry daiquiri:
Despite the jubilation after he finished, however, it's not been plain sailing for the runner, who has not only amassed an army of fans on social media but raised well over half a million pounds for charity.
Last year, only a few months into his challenge, Cook was held at gunpoint and robbed by two men in Angola.
Speaking at the time, he said: "First things first, we’re grateful to make it out alive.
“We lost a few thousand quids worth of stuff which is a big problem for us, but we will endeavour to soldier on and get things sorted."
And that wasn't it; weeks later, Cook was kidnapped, yes, you read that right, kidnapped while pounding through the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Taking to X, Cook explained what happened.
"On day 102 I was separated from the boys & the support van after some impassable roads in the planned route," he told his followers.
"In an attempt to find the boys at a village on the plan B route, I stumbled into a rural settlement where the chief told me I must give him money. I had none. So that went down well.
"Pretty soon I found myself surrounded by lots of game blokes with machetes. Was escorted out the village into the bush.
"Emptied my bag to show I had nothing but a half eaten biscuit. Gave it to them, and ran.
"Spent the next few hours bushwhacking through overgrown jungle paths. Trying to stay off any tracks until I was far away."
Things got even worse when Cook realised his support team couldn't get to him, and a guy pulled up on a bike, ordering him to get on.
"What happened next was a seven-hour motorbike ride deeper into the jungle. In my head I thought this was it. Me. The self-proclaimed hardest geezer. About to get held in a Congo gulag before being ripped apart limb by limb and eaten."
He said he was taken to a village where he overheard a group of men debating what to do with him.
Luckily, though, he somehow made it out in one piece and was able to carry on with his challenge.
You can donate to Cook's fundraiser here.
Dominic Smithers