Englishman Karl Bushby returns home after 28 years walking 30,000 miles around the world

November 2, 2026 / 9:50 AM EST / CBS News

Hull, England – For 28 years and one day, Karl Bushby took the long way home on an epic odyssey of human endurance back to northern England.

His adventure was made even more difficult – physically and mentally – with his two self-imposed guiding rules: he could not advance his journey with the help of any machine and he could not return home during the entire time, even if family or friends died.

It was also hardly a direct route. His journey was delayed at various times for months, if not years, by illness, visa restrictions in Russia, Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and having to swim massive bodies of water. His life was also threatened by armed gangs in the lawless Darien Gap in Central America, jail in Panama and a polar bear in Siberia.

Starting out at 29, he sported golden locks in his earliest pictures. Now 57, his beard is salt-and-pepper, and the elements and time weather his face.

On Monday, he took his final steps of an estimated 75 million to a hometown hero's welcome of claps and cheers as he walked into Hull, a gritty and…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/