- Welsh explorer Ash Dykes went silent for more than 16 hours during his 700km Congo River Basin expedition, prompting concern from fans worldwide
- Team member Matt sounded the alarm online after losing all communication with Ash and his crew deep in one of the most remote regions on earth
- Ash is navigating the Congo Basin in an inflatable kayak alongside a Cameroonian guide and a UK videographer, facing hippos, dense jungle, and communication blackouts
Fans of Welsh adventurer Ash Dykes can breathe again. His team confirmed on Tuesday that contact has been re-established after a nerve-wracking communications blackout that lasted over 16 hours during his ongoing Congo Basin expedition.
Source: Facebook
The alarm was first raised by a team member named Matt, who posted online to say that more than 16 hours had passed without any word from Ash or his crew. The message quickly spread, drawing waves of concern and prayers from followers around the world.
Team breaks silence with relief
Shortly after, Ash's official channels carried a fresh update confirming the good news.
"Update: we JUST received a message from Ash's sat-phone/Garmin! Everyone is safe! The Starlink is out and their powerbank has died, there's no way for them to send videos or updates, they can only send short messages whenever they get signal on the Garmin. That's all we know right now. We will update you when we know more. Thank you for your prayers!!"
The update explained that the team's Starlink connection has gone down and their powerbank is depleted, stripping them of any ability to share video footage or detailed reports. Their only remaining lifeline is a Garmin satellite device, through which they can send brief text messages when a signal is available.
Inside the high-risk expedition
Ash is currently attempting a gruelling 700km journey through the Congo River Basin, paddling an inflatable kayak from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of the Congo via the Sangha River. He is accompanied by Cameroonian guide Mebah Markdonald and UK videographer Will Pérez.
The stretch of wilderness they are moving through is among the most isolated on the planet. Hippos, thick jungle terrain, and prolonged network dead zones are constant hazards, making communication gaps an expected part of the journey, though that did little to ease the anxiety among supporters when no word came for so long.
Ash's team confirmed they will keep sharing updates as soon as more information reaches them.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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