Karl Bushby has admitted that leaving his eight-year-old son behind to walk around the world was 'a purely selfish way to be'. The British adventurer defended his decision to spend 28 years completing the extraordinary journey.
The 57-year-old former paratrooper returned to Hull on Monday, 2 November 2026, bringing an end to his Goliath Expedition, which began in 1998. Although Bushby has described the achievement as a defining moment in his life, he has also acknowledged the emotional cost of pursuing his ambition while his son, Adam, grew up without him.
In an interview with The Telegraph, republished by AOL, Bushby reflected on the separation, admitting that his decision affected the people closest to him. 'It has been a purely selfish way to be,' he said. 'All I've had to think about every goddamned day for 20 years is getting me fed, watered and moved 30km down the road.'
He continued: 'And other people will pay a price for that. People who love you, people who are important to you, they will pay an emotional price for that. Be careful what it is you celebrate and who your heroes are.'
The Guilt Over Leaving His Son
Bushby began the Goliath Expedition on 5 October 1998, leaving his mother's home in Hull with a plane ticket to Patagonia, $500 (around £300) and a plan to return without using motorised transport.
At the time, he had already divorced Adam's mother, Angela, and the pair had moved back to Belfast. Bushby said his military service had made it difficult for him to visit Northern Ireland unless he was on active duty, meaning he was already separated from his young son before beginning the expedition.
The adventurer acknowledged that the distance between them became increasingly difficult to reconcile as the years passed. 'There is a disconnect and distance with family that has to be overcome,' he said.
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'It's an odd one. There's guilt there. That cross gets heavier the more the years go by. But you wrap it up in that container that is the mission. It's the job.'
Bushby explained that he had hoped to return home by the time Adam turned 20. Instead, the journey continued for another 16 years. He also said he had imagined that Adam might eventually join him on the expedition as an adult, although that did not happen as he expected.
The adventurer said he had tried to make sense of his decision by considering the value the expedition might bring to his son's life. 'The way I squared the circle with Adam was by thinking that by doing this maybe I'll have more meaning in his life, more value doing what I'm doing,' he said.
Why Bushby Says He Has No Regrets
Bushby's admission that the expedition was selfish contrasts with his comments following his return to Hull, where he said he had no regrets. The adventurer explained that he believed completing the journey would make him more meaningful to his son than pursuing a conventional life. He also said the pair remained close, despite the prolonged separation.
Bushby has not claimed that his son experienced the years apart in the same way he did. His comments reflect his own understanding of the decision and its consequences. The expedition also came at a cost to other relationships. Bushby said he had spent seven years with a partner in Colombia and three years with another in Mongolia, but both relationships ended while he remained committed to his mission.
He acknowledged that the determination to complete the journey had made maintaining relationships difficult. 'There are so many reasons to quit,' he said. 'But if you have the mindset that there is no going home [until the end], you're in.'
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28 Years and 31,000 Miles Later
Bushby's journey covered approximately 31,000 miles across 31 countries, taking him through deserts, mountains, Arctic conditions and international borders. Among the most dangerous parts of the expedition were the Darién Gap, the Bering Strait and the English Channel.
He faced imprisonment, visa restrictions, illness and financial difficulties. The 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed by authorities delayed his progress for years.
Bushby eventually completed his final swim across the English Channel before continuing on foot towards Hull. A public reception marked his arrival, with crowds gathering to welcome him home. The return also allowed him to reunite with Adam, now 36, and meet his 12-year-old granddaughter for the first time.
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Bushby has said he plans to explore opportunities in science education and public speaking after the expedition. He has also acknowledged that adjusting to life without the mission will be difficult.
The adventurer's return marks the end of a journey that consumed much of his adult life. His reflections on his separation from his son have also highlighted the personal sacrifices behind an achievement that took nearly three decades to complete.
