Adventurer Karl Bushby who spent 28 years walking around the world completes unbelievable journey and reaches hometown
After a mammoth 28 years walking around the globe, adventurer Karl Bushby has finally made his final stop at his hometown and had a simple message for awaiting crowds.
The now 57-year-old arrived in the city of Hull on Monday morning (2 November) after swimming the channel back to the UK and travelling on foot all the way from South America.
His 31,000 mile trek has now come to an end as he was met by supporters, locals and camera crews as he pushed his trolley to his very last stop - his mum's house.
There were cheers and smiles as crowds showed their support, backing him until the very end of the unreal bid which started across the globe and ended on UK soil.
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As he arrived to fanfare in the city centre at Queen Victoria Square, he simply said: "I'm back" as he stood under a banner that says "welcome home Karl".
He said: "There has never been a welcome home like this, I'm sure... It's been a week of lasts, last night in a tent, last day on the road... now it's the last few steps to my mother's house."
He then added he was off the meet the rest of his family 'and chill out for a little bit' as crowds applauded.
Bushby had set off from the southern end of Chile in 1998, when he was just 28, vowing to walk all the way home without using any form of motorised transport.
After years of dangerous escapades, he crossed the notorious Darien Gap in Central America and traversed the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia on the frozen sea.
He then arrived back in England earlier this month, announcing that he had swum the Channel.
He made his final stop at Queen Victoria Square in the centre of Hull at around 11am before he will return to his mother’s house by around 1pm, to officially complete the 31,000-mile (50,000km) journey.
He will later return to Hull City Hall for a press conference in the afternoon.
Heartwarming pictures showed him surrounded by supporters as he arrived in Hull and crossed the Humber Bridge on Sunday.
A spokesperson said on Saturday Mr Bushby’s return home would be emotional', adding: “He’s feeling like it’s the end of his life as he knows. It’s quite emotional.
“He doesn’t really know what’s out there for him for the rest of his life because this has been 28 years of focusing on getting to the next step, and that whole journey will be over on Monday.
“He says that it’s going to be interesting to see how he feels and what happens after, what happens next.”
The Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber, Maria Coward, has previously encouraged residents and visitors to come out and welcome Mr Bushby home.
She said: “So many people have followed Karl on his epic journey. We have all felt inspired by his spirit, tenacity and dogged determination to carry on in challenges faced by the most fearless of explorers. We all share pride in his incredible achievement."
Topics: UK News, World News
James Holt