Ed Stafford facts for kids

Edward James Stafford, born on December 26, 1975, is a famous English explorer and survival expert. He holds a Guinness World Record for being the very first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River! Today, you can see Ed Stafford hosting exciting adventure shows on the Discovery Channel and Channel Four.

Ed Stafford: An Amazing Explorer

Early Life and School

Ed Stafford was born in Peterborough, England. He grew up in Leicestershire. When he was a baby, he was adopted by Barbara and Jeremiah Stafford. Both of his adoptive parents were lawyers.

Ed went to a school called Uppingham School. He was also a Cub Scout and a Scout when he was younger. Later, in 1997, he earned a degree in Geography from Newcastle University.

Military Service

After university, Ed Stafford joined the British Army in 1998. He trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He became an officer in the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. Ed served in Northern Ireland in 2000. He left the army in 2002 as a Captain.

Incredible Adventures and Survival Shows

Ed Stafford is best known for his amazing expeditions. He has explored many remote places. He also teaches people how to survive in the wild.

Walking the Amazon River

On August 9, 2010, Ed Stafford made history. He became the first person ever to walk the entire length of the Amazon River. This incredible journey was shown in a TV series called Walking the Amazon in 2011.

Ed's adventure started on April 2, 2008, in Peru. He began with a friend, Luke Collyer. However, Luke left after three months. Ed continued the journey with his guide, Gadiel “Cho” Sánchez Rivera. Ed did this expedition to help different charities.

During his walk, Ed faced many challenges. He ran out of money and asked people online for help. He was also held at gunpoint and with bows and arrows. He was even arrested a few times. Once, he was held in a wooden hut for eight hours. This happened when he arrived in a village where someone had gone missing. Despite these dangers, he kept going!

Ed Stafford's route walking the Amazon River from 2008 to 2009.

His walk along the Amazon River was truly extraordinary. Famous explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes called it "truly extraordinary." It is considered one of the greatest expeditions ever.

Ed's achievement was recognized by many groups. He was named one of National Geographic Adventurers of the Year in 2010. In 2011, he won the European Adventurer of the Year award. The Guinness World Records also officially recognized his amazing walk in their 2012 book. He also received the Mungo Park Medal from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

Surviving Alone on an Island

In 2012, Ed filmed a special show for the Discovery Channel. He was dropped on a deserted island called Olorua in the Pacific Ocean. He had no food or equipment. He had to survive for 60 days all by himself!

This show was called "Ed Stafford: Naked and Marooned" in the UK. In the USA, it was called "Naked Castaway." Ed also wrote a book about his 60 days alone on the island.

Other TV Shows

Ed Stafford has starred in many other survival shows. In Marooned with Ed Stafford, he filmed himself surviving in different remote places. He also investigated strange markings in Ed Stafford: Into The Unknown.

Later, he had a show called Ed Stafford: Left For Dead, which premiered in 2017. In this show, he was left in tough environments and had to find his way to safety.

Since 2019, Ed has hosted Ed Stafford: First Man Out. In this show, he competes against other survival experts. They race to complete difficult treks in different parts of the world. They have very little equipment. He has competed against experts like Aldo Kane, Matt Graham, and Ky Furneaux.

Ed Stafford's Personal Life

After his Amazon expedition, Ed Stafford looked for his biological parents. He found them with the help of his sister, Janie. He has two younger biological brothers.

On September 3, 2016, Ed married fellow explorer Laura Bingham. They got married in Leicestershire.

Ed and Laura have four children. Their first child, a boy, was born on June 6, 2017. On August 26, 2020, they welcomed twin girls. Their fourth child, another girl, was born on April 3, 2024.

In April 2023, Ed, Laura, and their children moved to Costa Rica.

Filmography

Ed Stafford has appeared in many television series.

See also

In Spanish: Ed Stafford para niños