‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook reveals scariest moment from epic run across Africa

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2024

admin

“The Hardest Geezer” has revealed the scariest moment from his gruelling 352-day run across the whole length of Africa.

In a news conference, Russ Cook said that – out of the 16 countries he visited during his 9,941-mile journey – he was most afraid “in the Congo on the back of a motorbike, thinking I was about to die”.

He had gone missing and was separated from his supporters for days in the jungle, but was eventually freed after villagers armed with machetes were paid off.

Meanwhile, in Angola, he and his team were robbed at gunpoint – with cameras, phones and passports stolen.

The 27-year-old – who went through 30 pairs of trainers during his quest – has already raised £700,000 for good causes and is aiming to hit £1m.

Donations will go towards supporting young people going through hard times – as well as educational and cultural programmes in Algerian refugee camps.

When asked what motivated him as he ran the equivalent distance of 379 marathons, Cook said his family – and the legacy he will pass on if he has children – was a driving force.

“I’d love for more people to be inspired or motivated to go out running,” he added.

During the live Q&A session, he was also asked about behind-the-scenes logistics from his mammoth journey… including how he washed.

“Not very often,” Cook quipped – adding that everything from rivers, lakes, bucket baths and a makeshift shower on the back of a 4×4 were used to maintain basic hygiene, as well as the odd hotel if he was lucky.

There were some more light-hearted questions too, with curious journalists wondering what his favourite movie is.

Fight Club, Interstellar and the romcom About Time made the list… but Forrest Gump – where Tom Hanks’s character runs across the US for three years, two months, 14 days and 16 hours – didn’t.

Running group challenges Cook’s claim

While the endurance athlete’s huge achievement of taking 19 million steps hasn’t been disputed, the World Runners Association has questioned Cook’s claim that he is the first person to run the length of Africa.

The WRA consists of seven athletes who have successfully circumnavigated the world on foot – and it argues that one of its members, Denmark’s Jesper Kenn Olsen, was actually the first to complete this challenge back in 2010.

Phil Essam, the association’s president, said: “Mr Olsen ran through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. He hereby fulfilled the criteria for a full-length run across Africa.”

UK

Manhunt after five people stabbed at event in southeast London

Published

4 hours ago

May 17, 2025

admin

Manhunt after five people stabbed at event in southeast London

A manhunt has been launched after five people were stabbed at an event in southeast London, police have said.

Officers were called to Nathan Way, Thamesmead, at 4.19am on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Five people were found with stab wounds and were taken to hospital where their injuries are still being assessed.

No arrests have been made.

“Enquiries are ongoing and a cordon will remain in place throughout the day,” a Met Police statement said.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

UK

Three Iranians charged under National Security Act after investigation by UK counter-terror police

Published

6 hours ago

May 17, 2025

admin

Three Iranians charged under National Security Act after investigation by UK counter-terror police

Three Iranian men have been charged with offences under the National Security Act in the UK, police have said.

The trio have been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between 14 August 2024 and 16 February 2025, following an investigation by counter-terror police.

The Metropolitan Police said the three men are Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55.

The foreign state to which the charges relate is Iran, police said.

All three men will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday, the force added.

Sepahvand, of St John’s Wood, London, has also been charged with “surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research” with the intention of “committing serious violence against a person in the UK”, according to a police statement.

Meanwhile, Manesh, of Kensal Rise, London, and Noori, of Ealing, London, have also been charged with “engaging in conduct, namely surveillance and reconnaissance, with the intention that acts, namely serious violence against a person in the UK, would be committed by others”.

Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, described the charges as “extremely serious”.

“Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service to reach this point,” he said.

“Now that these men have been charged, I would urge people not to speculate about this case, so that the criminal justice process can run its course.”

A fourth Iranian national aged 31 who was arrested was released with no further action on Thursday.

In a separate unrelated probe, counter-terror officers arrested five Iranian men, aged between 29 and 46, during raids across various locations in Greater Manchester, London, and Swindon earlier this month.

Last October, MI5 director general Ken McCallum said the UK intelligence agency had responded to 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-backed plots since 2022, warning of the risk of an “increase or broadening of Iranian state aggression in the UK”.

UK

Two firefighters and one other person die after fire at former RAF base in Oxfordshire

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2025

admin

Two firefighters and one other person die after fire at former RAF base in Oxfordshire

Two firefighters and a member of the public have died in a large fire in Bicester, the fire service announced.

The firefighters died in the inferno at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire, which now hosts historic motoring and aviation centre Bicester Motion.

The local fire service was called to the scene at 6.39pm last night.

Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we today report the loss of two of our firefighters. Families have been informed and are being supported.

“Our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times and we ask for privacy to be respected.

“We cannot release any details at present but will provide further information as soon as we can.”

Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries and are currently being treated in hospital, Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement.

Footage shared on social media shows plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and flames swallowing the large building.

Ten fire crews attended the incident, with four remaining at the scene. The fire is still ongoing, but it is considered under control.

Local residents were advised to remain indoors and keep their windows shut, but this advice has now been lifted.

Bicester Motion said in a statement it would be closed today and over the weekend.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.