A British adventurer, Russ Cook, known as the ‘Hardest Geezer’ on social media, has completed his extraordinary journey running the length of Africa, spanning 16 countries and enduring challenges including a gunpoint robbery and a kidnapping. After 352 days of relentless effort, covering approximately 10,000 miles – equivalent to 386 marathons – Cook crossed the finish line in Tunisia.
The 27-year-old, hailing from Worthing, West Sussex, arrived at Ras Angela, Tunisia’s northernmost point, amidst a wave of emotions. Surrounded by loved ones and supporters, he expressed disbelief as he stood atop a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, before celebrating with a refreshing dip.
In the midst of exhaustion, Cook’s wit remained intact as he jokingly dismissed the suggestion of a strawberry daiquiri, a reward he had often teased himself with during the journey. Addressing the media at the finish line, he simply admitted, “I’m pretty tired.”
Supporters cheered ecstatically, chanting ‘Geezer, Geezer, Geezer’, recognizing the significance of his historic accomplishment. One fan expressed the sentiment of many, saying, “I just wanted to be part of it. It’s a piece of history.”
With a radiant smile, Russ Cook triumphantly crosses the finish line, marking his historic achievement as the inaugural individual to run the entire length of Africa.
With a radiant smile, Russ Cook triumphantly crosses the finish line, marking his historic achievement as the inaugural individual to run the entire length of Africa.
This afternoon, Cook accomplished an unprecedented feat, becoming the inaugural individual to traverse the entire length of Africa on foot.
At the finish line, Cook shares embraces with his supporters, having conquered the equivalent of 385 marathons over the course of a year.
This marks the moment when fans rallied alongside Russ Cook to cross the finish line in Tunisia.
Surrounded by photographers and supporters at the finish line, Cook visibly displays his emotions.
As Russ Cook nears the finish line in Tunisia, he is greeted by a throng of supporters.
As he strives to achieve the milestone of being the first person to run the length of Africa, he is captured making his way towards Ras Angela in Tunisia.
His supporters eagerly await his arrival, donning fake ginger beards in anticipation of his passing.
Identifying as ‘Worthing’s Hardest Geezer,’ Cook has confronted numerous challenges along his journey.
This morning, Cook embarked on the last leg of his journey, donning a retro England football shirt and a bucket hat for the final 25 miles. Accompanied by loyal fans, some of whom mimicked his appearance with fake ginger beards, Cook set off from a petrol station in Ghezala, Tunisia, at 10am.
Speaking to Sky News as he commenced the final stretch, he expressed determination, stating, “One more day, one final push to get this thing done.” Despite the physical toll of 352 days on the road and the longing for family and loved ones, Cook remained resolute, acknowledging the challenges with a few tears and acknowledging, “My body is in a lot of pain but I’ve only got one day, I’m not about to complain.”
Looking ahead to the celebration, Cook shared his excitement for strawberry daiquiris on the beach, anticipating an unforgettable evening. Notably, Cook’s journey has also been marked by his philanthropic efforts, having raised £685,000 for charity thus far, with more to come.
Cook embarked on his extraordinary journey from Cape Agulhas, South Africa, in April 2023, asserting his status as the first person to complete the entire length of Africa. However, beyond showcasing his mental and physical resilience, Cook’s odyssey has been fraught with perilous encounters.
Facing adversities such as a gunpoint robbery, a hostage situation, and a perilous visa complication at the Mauritanian border, Cook’s original goal of completing the mega distance in 240 days was extended by approximately 100 days due to various obstacles.
During his passage through Angola, around 1800 miles into his run, Cook encountered armed assailants who raided his support van, brandishing firearms and absconding with the team’s belongings, including cameras, mobile phones, passports, and cash. Fortunately, there were no injuries among his crew during the incident.
In another harrowing episode in August, Cook found himself “kidnapped” by a group armed with machetes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recounting the ordeal on social media, he described being coerced by a village chief for money, which escalated into a confrontation with armed individuals. After surrendering what little he had and fleeing into the jungle, Cook spent hours navigating through dense foliage, evading pursuit until he was safely distant from the danger.
He anticipates crossing the finish line later today, where he will be accompanied by supporters for the final stretch.
Initially aiming to cover the extensive distance in 240 days, various obstacles have extended his journey by approximately 100 days.
Cook recounted how his support van fell victim to a raid by armed individuals, whom he described as “desperate blokes with guns.” The assailants made off with his team’s cameras, mobile phones, and several passports.
In August, Cook found himself “kidnapped” by a gang of machete-wielding men in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Russ Cook is captured after enduring the harrowing experience of being robbed at gunpoint by thugs during his remarkable run.
“After reaching the village on the plan B route, only to discover that the road was once again impassable for the support van, I found myself exhausted and dehydrated. As I began to backtrack towards the last known location with passable roads, two individuals approached on a bike.”
They spoke no English but gestured for me to accompany them to reunite with my friends.
“What followed was a seven-hour motorbike journey deeper into the jungle. In that moment, I feared the worst. Me, the self-proclaimed ‘hardest geezer’, on the brink of being held in a Congo prison before meeting a grisly end.”
Thankfully, Cook was taken to a village where he was sheltered in a hut. There, a group of men deliberated over his fate, debating the amount of money he owed them.
After negotiations, he managed to reach out to his team, who spent the following days devising a rescue plan.
Despite the odds, Cook successfully escaped. Instead of opting for an immediate return home, he defiantly retraced his steps back to the starting point and continued his journey, covering an additional 60km on a new route.
Amidst his challenges, Cook battled through multiple illnesses, enduring symptoms such as blood in his urine and agonizing back pain.
Then, in January, his entire mission faced jeopardy when he encountered difficulties obtaining a visa to enter Algeria.
Cook is captured crossing the finish line in Africa, marking the culmination of his record-breaking run.
He is raising funds for The Running Charity, which aids the mental health of young individuals with complex needs or experiencing homelessness, as well as for Sandblast, an organization dedicated to educating people about Sahrawi culture.
The athlete, who once described himself as a former ‘fat lad’ struggling with alcohol and gambling problems, discovered his passion for long-distance running at the age of 21 when he participated in a half marathon.
In a video shared on social media, Cook expressed that the success of his challenge hinged on obtaining permission from Algerian authorities to enter the country.
“Hello, everyone. We have a bit of a problem. We haven’t been able to secure visas for Algeria, and without them, it’s game over for Project Africa,” he explained. “I’ve been running for 278 days now, covering nearly 12,000km (7,456 miles) across 13 countries, and raising over £140k for charity in my quest to become the first person to run the entire length of Africa.”
“But now, everything hangs on whether Algeria will grant us permission to cross the border with Mauritania,” he continued. “This is our last option, so Algeria, if you’re listening, please reach out. Anything you need from us, let us know. It would be an honor to visit your beautiful country.”
He also appealed to his online followers for support, urging them to share his message to reach the appropriate authorities in Algeria.
Conservative MP for East Worthing, Tim Loughton, responded to Cook’s plea, offering assistance by contacting the Foreign Office. “Russ, I’ve received your video and understand you’re from East Worthing,” Loughton stated. “Please email me with details, and we’ll do our best to help through the Foreign Office and Algerian Embassy.”
Cook’s social media campaign proved successful, as the Algerian Embassy confirmed they would grant him a courtesy visa “on the spot,” allowing him to proceed with his journey.
Aside from his current challenge, Cook, who describes himself as a former ‘fat lad’ grappling with alcohol and gambling issues, discovered his passion for long-distance running at the age of 21 when he entered a half marathon.
Renowned for his feats of strength and endurance, Cook has previously completed 71 marathons in 66 days from Asia to London in 2019, pulled a Suzuki Alto 26 miles along the south coast, and endured being buried alive for a week in 2021.
Through his endeavors, Cook is raising funds for The Running Charity, which supports the mental health of young people facing complex needs or homelessness, and Sandblast, an organization focused on educating people about Sahrawi culture.
