Kent man on epic 3,462-mile cycle to Australia after surviving attempt to take his own life

Ben Barry & Chloe Holmwood

10 July 2024 at 6:41 am·4-min read

No caption — -Credit: (Image: Sam Murray© SWNS)

Meet the man who is on an epic 3,462-mile cycle ride from the UK to Australia. Sam Murray, 24, set off from his home in Greenhithe last month and has travelled through France, Brussels, Germany, Switzerland and is now in Venice, Italy.

The aim is to cycle his way through Turkey, Georgia, Russia and Kazakhstan - ending his trip in Perth in July 2025. Along the way, Sam has been camping under tunnels and underpasses - being welcomed in by local communities where he has stayed.

Sam is hoping to raise money for the Samaritans - a support charity - after he tried to take his own life in June 2020. He has quit his job and left behind his family as he spends a year on the road with a single backpack.

Sam, a former IT support worker, said: "I have always liked travelling and seeing the world. The great thing about tourism on a bike is that you get to see the towns and villages that are off the beaten path.

"Back in 2020 I tried to take my own life. The main reason I am doing this is to show people that things can get better and you can do something incredibly crazy.

"That you can start living your dreams as long as you give yourself a bit of self love." Sam set off from his family home in Greenhithe on May 27.

He said his highlight so far on the trip was when he stayed in Burkheim, Germany, and joined a family for the first game of the Euros. Sam said: "I was cycling in the French border. I took a detour to go over the border into Germany.

"I crossed the bridge into Germany when I noticed that a local football club was hosting a viewing for the game. I watched the opening game there and was taken in for a couple of days by this family - I was their fourth son for the weekend.

"That was highlight for me - it shows how kind people can really be to strangers." One of the challenges Sam faced was cycling through the Furka Pass - a 7,969ft mountain pass in the southern Swiss Alps - when he witnessed a cyclist in a serious collision.

He said: "I had just cycled down 500 metres and I had to go up 800 metres. I was half way up the hill when I saw a cyclist coming down at speed and a motorbike crashing into the back of him.

"The cyclist had some gruesome injuries and I called an ambulance. I stayed for a few hours to talk to police.

"It was getting dark, I had seen a horrific accident climbing this mountain and I was scared to cycle after what I had just seen. Sam is currently in Valencia, Italy, waiting for his bike to be repaired, he is hoping to stay on one bike the whole journey.

Next he will cycle his way through Turkey, Georgia, Russia, and Kazakhstan - ending his 3,462-mile trip in Perth next July. Sam said: "My route is a little bit what I fancy, I don't have a strict route.

"I do have an idea how I will get through Asia now. I might have to get a plane from Kazakhstan to South East Asia as there is a few conflicts going on in the countries in between.

"From Indonesia I will fly to Cairns, Australia, and cycle the east and south coast all the way around the country - I want to cycle 20km around the world. Throughout his challenge, Sam will be raising money for Samaritans after he tried to take his own life in 2020.

You can donate to Sam's fundraiser here.

Where to get help if you're struggling

You don't have to suffer in silence if you're struggling with your mental health. Here are some groups you can contact when you need help:

Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence.
Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill.
PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141.
Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. No helpline but offers useful resources and links to other information on its website.
Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Click here to visit.
Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Click here.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Has a website here and a helpline: 0800 58 58 58.

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Where to get help if you're struggling

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