🧭 Ed Stafford – Explorer, Survivalist & Broadcaster
Ed Stafford (born 26 December 1975) is a British explorer, survivalist, and television presenter renowned for his groundbreaking expeditions and survival documentaries. He holds the Guinness World Record as the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, a feat that brought him international acclaim.
🎓 Early Life & Education
Born in Peterborough, England, and raised in Leicestershire, Stafford was adopted by Barbara and Jeremiah Stafford. He attended Uppingham School and was active in the Scouts. He later earned a BSc in Geography from Newcastle University in 1997.
🎖️ Military Career
In 1998, Stafford joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment of the British Army. He served in Northern Ireland and achieved the rank of captain before leaving the army in 2002.
🌍 Walking the Amazon
On 9 August 2010, after a 860-day journey, Stafford became the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River. The expedition began in April 2008 in Peru and concluded at the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil. The journey was documented in the TV series “Walking the Amazon” and the accompanying book of the same name.
📺 Television Career
Following his Amazon expedition, Stafford transitioned into television, hosting several survival and exploration series:
- Ed Stafford: Naked and Marooned (2013): Surviving 60 days alone on a Pacific island.
- Marooned with Ed Stafford (2014–2016): Solo survival in remote locations worldwide.
- Ed Stafford: Into The Unknown (2015): Investigating mysterious satellite images in remote areas.
- Ed Stafford: Left For Dead (2017): Survival challenges in extreme environments.
- Ed Stafford: First Man Out (2019–present): Competing against other survival experts in various terrains.
- 60 Days on the Streets (2019): Experiencing homelessness in the UK.
- 60 Days with the Gypsies (2022): Living with Gypsy and Traveller communities.
- 60 Days on the Estates (2023): Exploring life on some of the UK’s most challenging housing estates.
📚 Publications
- Walking the Amazon (2012)
- Naked and Marooned (2014)
- Adventures for a Lifetime (2018)
- Ed Stafford’s Ultimate Adventure Guide (2018)
- Expeditions Unpacked (2019)
- Epic Expeditions: 25 of the Greatest Voyages Into the Unknown (2021)
👨👩👧👦 Personal Life
Stafford is married to fellow explorer Laura Bingham. The couple has four children and, as of April 2023, resides in Costa Rica.
📚 Learn More
For a comprehensive overview of Ed Stafford’s life and achievements, visit his Wikipedia page.
Edward James Stafford (born 26 December 1975) is an English explorer and survivalist. He holds the Guinness World Record for being the first human ever to walk the length of the Amazon River. Stafford now hosts shows on the Discovery Channel and Channel Four.
Ed Stafford | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward James Stafford 26 December 1975 |
| Alma mater | Newcastle University |
| Occupation | Explorer |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |