Ed Stafford is an explorer, writer and filmmaker
On the 9th August 2010, explorer Ed Stafford entered the history books. He completed the longest jungle expedition ever undertaken, becoming the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River.
Previously, this feat was thought of as ‘impossible’. Ed’s success in walking the entire length of the 4000 mile River on foot from Peru to Brazil proved that if you have a dream, and you have the determination to succeed, then nothing is impossible.
“Truly extraordinary. In the top league of expeditions past and present.”
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Stafford, a former Captain in the Devon & Dorset’s Light Infantry regiment of the British Army, filmed and blogged his dangerous journey along the longest river in the world.
His adventure was picked up and followed in the USA by CNN and ABC. CNN followed Ed and his assistant Cho’s final three weeks as they neared the close of their expedition.
After 860 days of walking, on 9th August 2010, Ed and Cho ran into the sea on Maruda Beach. Their story was headline news around the globe.
Ed’s mission to inspire was complete. His true grit, bravery and determination to succeed against all of the odds led to him being described in The Daily Mail as ‘Britain’s most intrepid hero since Scott of the Antarctic’.
Ed’s Amazon adventure online drew in millions of viewers from around the globe. It has been described as one of the most dangerous and difficult expeditions ever undertaken.
Walking the Amazon
The 2 part documentary filmed and directed by Ed Stafford entitled ‘Walking The Amazon’ has aired in over 100 countries. Furthermore, the book of the same name was published globally. Both provided an exciting and enthralling route for others into the Amazon jungle.
On his journey, Stafford encountered snakes, floods, electric eels, jaguars and hostile tribes, one of which held Ed for questioning about the murder of one of their tribesmen. Drug traffickers use the route, and the tribes fear white people. However, Ed’s humour and humility helped him to pass through these dangerous areas unscathed.
Ed had to remain focused and positive. He had to use his sense of humour and his innate ability to understand how to communicate with the people he met along the way to both survive and to continue to the very end.
TV documentaries
Since ‘Walking the Amazon’, Ed has taken part in many adventure television series around the world for networks in the UK and USA. They include:
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- Ed Stafford: Into the Unknown
- Naked and Marooned with Ed Stafford
- Ed Stafford: Left for Dead
- Marooned with Ed Stafford
- Ed Stafford: First Man Out
Ed Stafford – Keynote Speaker:
Ed’s relaxed, humorous style, educates and enthrals. His presentation is a mix of narrative and pictorial anecdotes and documentary filmed by himself in the jungle.
He takes the audience with him back to the wilderness via his presentation and helps to inspire them to see the life ahead as an adventure-ready to begin.
Ed has a fantastic story to tell which truly astonishes people. Furthermore, he is humble about his achievements which make him even more endearing to listen to as a speaker.
The stories of his adventures cover many challenging scenarios which draw out so many parallels between his own experiences and the workplace.
He is genuinely his authentic self when presenting, which makes him even more fascinating to watch and listen.
Ed’s speaking topics include:
- Self-reliance
- Self-motivation
- Coping with uncertainty
- Overcoming extreme setbacks and hanging on in when things appear desperate
