Concerns are mounting for North Wales adventurer Ash Dykes after his team confirmed that contact has been lost during his latest expedition deep within the Congo Basin.
The 35-year-old explorer, who was born in St Asaph and grew up in Old Colwyn, is currently two weeks into an ambitious 700-kilometre journey down the Sangha River. Navigating by inflatable kayak, Dykes is traveling from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of the Congo, traversing what has been described as “one of the last great wildernesses left on the planet.”
The alarm was raised on Wednesday after his support team confirmed they had not heard from the adventurer for over 16 hours. A statement posted to his official Facebook page urged followers to be patient while they attempt to re-establish communication.
“Please bear with us,” the team wrote. “It’s been more than 16 hours since we last heard from Ash and the team which is concerning. We will endeavour to keep you posted and let you all know as soon as we hear more.”
This trek marks the first of six grueling expeditions planned by Dykes over the next 12 months. His website outlines a punishing schedule: “Twelve months. Six of the hardest places on Earth, one after another, with barely enough time in between to come home and repack.”
Dykes is a world-renowned explorer with a long history of conquering some of the globe’s most formidable environments. His resume includes becoming the first person to walk across Mongolia solo and unsupported in 2014, a journey that took 78 days. In 2016, he became the first recorded person to traverse the length of Madagascar, trekking 1,600 miles over eight mountain ranges in 155 days.
He is also a household name in China, where he made history in 2019 as the first person to complete a 4,000-mile trek along the Yangtze River on foot. More recently, he captured headlines for a 3,400-mile journey along the course of China’s Yellow River.
The Congo Basin is notoriously difficult to navigate, characterized by dense rainforest, unpredictable weather, and remote river systems. Given the rugged nature of the terrain and the potential for technological interference, supporters are hoping the blackout is merely a logistical issue. However, the unexpected silence from the seasoned explorer has triggered significant unease among fans and the local community in North Wales.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no further updates have been provided by his team. Supporters worldwide are waiting anxiously for news as search and communication efforts continue.
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