‘Let’s show him how proud we are’: Civic welcome for Karl Bushby after walk across the world

ICE MAN: Karl Bushby in Alaska

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

People are being invited to give intrepid adventurer Karl Bushby a hero’s welcome when he arrives home in Hull next week after a record-breaking walk across the world.

Hull-born Karl, now 57, was 28 when he set off walking home from Punta Arenas in Chile on November 1, 1998. His simple rule was to walk all the way home without using any form of transport.

That epic 28-year journey will end on Monday, November 2, when he is expected to walk into Queen Victoria Square at about 10am. It will be the first time the former soldier has stepped foot in his home city since his journey began at the tip of South America.

Councillor Maria Coward, Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber, is inviting residents and visitors to join her in welcoming Karl back to the city.

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.  

“We also know what it’s like to come home to Hull – that feeling as your car or train, or feet in Karl's case, crosses or goes under the Humber Bridge and over the city boundary. As the world’s media and documentary crews gather in our city we can show them how proud we are of Karl’s achievement and how proud we are to be from Hull.” 

Karl will be welcomed into the square by the Hull Volunteers and by the mayor before completing his walk to his Mum’s in east Hull.