Extreme adventurer Ash Dykes has given his supporters a reason to worry after his team went more than 16 hours without hearing from him during a demanding journey through the Congo Basin.
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team → give → Basin
The 35-year-old Welsh explorer is travelling hundreds of miles through remote waterways, where weak signals and failing equipment can make communication difficult.
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communication → travel → waterways
His support team has now confirmed contact through a satellite device, offering some relief.
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team → confirm → relief
However, the lack of regular updates highlights the risks Dykes faces as he continues one of the most challenging expeditions of his career.
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he → highlight → career
Ash Dykes’ Congo Basin trek raises concerns after communication failure
Dykes is currently undertaking a 434-mile journey from Nola in the Central African Republic to Mossaka in the Republic of Congo.
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Dykes → raise → Congo
The route takes him through a remote region where access to reliable communication can be limited, leaving his support team dependent on satellite technology for updates.
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access → take → updates
Concern grew on Wednesday, October 21, when a member of his team named Matt shared an update on Instagram.
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member → grow → Instagram
The message revealed that more than 16 hours had passed without contact.
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hours → reveal → contact
It’s been more than 16 hours since we last heard from Ash and the team which is concerning,” the message read.
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message → hear → Ash
“We will endeavour to keep you posted and let you all know as soon as we hear more.
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we → endeavour → more
The announcement quickly drew attention to the dangers of travelling through isolated waterways.
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announcement → draw → waterways
In such areas, even a temporary loss of communication can leave families, supporters and expedition teams waiting for news without knowing what is happening on the ground.
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what → leave → ground
Around five hours after the initial warning, the team shared a more reassuring update.
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team → share → update
They had managed to hear from Dykes through his Garmin satellite device after his Starlink connection and power bank had run out.
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connection → manage → device
“There’s no way for them to send videos or updates, they can only send short messages whenever they get signal on the Garmin,” the Instagram message read.
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message → ’ → Garmin
Although contact had been restored, the update made clear that regular video footage and detailed reports might remain unavailable until the team could recharge its equipment and regain a stronger connection.
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team → restore → connection
Ash Dykes faces major risks during Project Six expedition
The Congo Basin journey forms part of Dykes’ wider Project Six mission, which consists of six expeditions.
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which → face → expeditions
He has documented the physical demands and unexpected challenges of his travels through online videos, including encounters with large insects and the effort required to kayak long distances.
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He → document → insects
For an explorer travelling through unfamiliar terrain, preparation is essential, but it cannot remove every risk.
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it → travel → risk
Equipment can fail, conditions can change quickly, and help may be far away.
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help → fail → ?
Dykes has previously acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with this kind of adventure.
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that → acknowledge → adventure
Speaking to People, he said, “There’s definitely the fear that anything can happen,” Dykes told People.
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Dykes → speak → People
“It is an adventure, and as experienced as I am, I can anticipate what might happen and try to understand, based on experience, how I usually react to those situations.
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I → anticipate → situations
I feel that I’ve got what it takes to bring us all back safe and alive.”
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it → feel → us
His team's latest update offers some reassurance, but the expedition remains demanding.
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expedition → offer → reassurance
Supporters will likely be watching for further messages as Dykes continues his journey through the Congo Basin.
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Dykes → watch → Basin
The Aporia
