Understand
Karl Bushby reaches UK soil after swimming across the English Channel
Overview
British adventurer Karl Bushby has reached Dover after completing a gruelling swim across the English Channel with no training, marking the final major hurdle of his 28-year global journey. Bushby, a former paratrooper, began his trek in Chile in November 1998 with rules not to use transport and not to return home to Hull until finished. After Channel Tunnel bosses refused him access, he had to swim the channel, spending three days at sea and 20 hours in the water. He plans to resume his journey and arrive at his childhood home in Hull by early November.
Key points
- British adventurer Karl Bushby swam across the English Channel to reach Dover after three days at sea.
- The 57-year-old completed the swim with no prior training, suffering from cramps after the first hour.
- Bushby started his 28-year round-the-world journey in Chile on 1 November 1998 under self-imposed rules not to use transport.
- He was forced to swim the channel after Channel Tunnel operators vetoed his request to use a service tunnel.
- Bushby has covered more than 30,000 miles across 29 countries and aims to reach his childhood home in Hull by early November.
