Suriname, South America — Ash Dykes, a 33-year-old adventurer from Wales, and his teammate Jacon Hudson, 26, originally from Foxton, Market Harborough but now residing in London, have made headlines after successfully completing an arduous 37-day trek that culminated in setting two new Guinness World Records. Their remarkable journey concluded at the mouth of the Coppename River in Suriname, where they faced numerous challenges, including illness and extreme environmental conditions.
Hudson, who grew up in Market Harborough and studied at Northampton University before relocating to London, joined Dykes, along with teammates Dick Lock and Matt Wallace, in a mission that required them to kayak without sleep for three consecutive days. This relentless effort was essential in achieving their record-setting goals.
The expedition was meticulously planned over several months and involved being dropped into the heart of the Amazon jungle by helicopter. Following nearly 40 days of isolation, the team focused on two main objectives: first, to summit Julainatop, the highest mountain in Suriname, which they accomplished within five days. Afterward, they aimed to navigate over 500 kilometers from the source of the Coppename River to the sea, embarking on a grueling endurance challenge.
The team’s record-setting mission was completed successfully this week, despite suffering from sleep deprivation, infections, and malnutrition that led to hallucinations during their final push to reach the Atlantic Ocean.
In a statement reflecting on their journey, Dykes expressed the emotional weight of reaching their goal: “To get to the finish line was very emotional for us all. Those last three days were some of the hardest. In three nights, we had under five hours of sleep, so we were extremely sleep-deprived and started to hallucinate. It was incredibly tough, with heat exhaustion and dehydration adding to our struggles. Words cannot express just how monumental it was to cross that finish line.”
Originally from St Asaph, Wales, Dykes was flown into the ex-Dutch colony on August 29. Over the following six days, he and his team fought their way upstream in kayaks carrying 50 kilograms of supplies while battling relentless insect bites, including from over 300 ticks and aggressive army ants. Their trek also included encounters with dangerous wildlife, such as the Goliath tarantula, the world’s largest spider, snakes, and caiman.
After locating the source of the Coppename River on September 3, the team swiftly ascended Julainatop, setting a new record for the fastest summit. However, their most significant challenges lay ahead during their kayak journey from the river’s source to the ocean, where temperatures often soared to nearly 40°C.
Dykes recounted the hardships faced during the expedition: “We didn’t see any other humans in 34 days. We relied on solar energy to charge our equipment and faced severe hunger and thirst. At one point, one of our kayaks popped due to the heat, which jeopardized our mission. We had to redistribute supplies among the remaining kayaks, and Jacob and Matt shared paddling duties on a single kayak. Matt suffered a serious infection in his arm that caused him to black out for several minutes, while Jacob nearly fainted just five kilometers from the finish line.”
Throughout their ordeal, the team was forced to survive on a meager 800 to 1,000 calories per day while burning up to 6,000 calories, leaving them dangerously malnourished. Their limited diet initially consisted of ration packs before they turned to catching local fish such as piranha, stingray, and wolfish for sustenance. Despite these efforts, each member lost approximately 10 kilograms and sustained multiple injuries that almost derailed their expedition.
Dykes further described the dangers they faced: “Matt checked his boots in the morning but forgot to inspect his gloves and got stung by one of Suriname’s most venomous scorpions. Fortunately, he began to recover; otherwise, it could have meant immediate evacuation. I developed a severe infection on my shin but was able to recover with antibiotics.”
As a global ambassador for the charity Free the Wild, Dykes also shared a memorable encounter with wildlife during their journey, including a jaguar that curiously observed them from the riverbank. Although he was able to stay connected with family and share updates through Globalsat and Viasat technology, Dykes noted a sense of detachment from the outside world during their time in the remote jungle.
“The wildlife here is remarkably curious due to the lack of human activity. They often do not flee but instead watch to assess if you pose a threat. I witnessed a jaguar watching us for a full two minutes, which was surreal. I hope Suriname continues to preserve its natural environment and allows the jungle to remain untouched for the wildlife.”
Dykes has previously set three world records in expeditions across Mongolia, Madagascar, and China, expressing his passion for undertaking unique adventures. He concluded, “I’d like to thank Free The Wild for sponsoring our expedition to Suriname; without their support, this once-in-a-lifetime mission and our world record attempt would not have been possible. As an ambassador, I take great pride in experiencing wildlife in its natural habitat, free from captivity.”
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