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Daniel Eggington has already completed world first expeditions in environments most people would never dare step into. No big budget. No support crew. No safety net. Just an ordinary man deciding to do something extraordinary and refusing to turn back when everything went wrong.

In this episode Daniel takes us into the reality behind those missions. The failed attempts. The fear. The injuries. The wrong turns. The nights he was convinced he would not make it home. From being abandoned in the Darien Gap to navigating cartel controlled regions, crossing lethal rivers, losing supplies and fighting exhaustion, Daniel speaks openly about the moments he has never shared publicly before.

But this conversation is not just about survival. It is about why he keeps going back. The drive. The purpose. The identity he built through hardship. And the way remote environments force you to confront the truth about who you are.

Daniel is now preparing for the biggest challenge of his life, a world first expedition through the Congo River region. A route so dangerous and unpredictable that very few people would even attempt it. The planning, setbacks and political barriers have already begun, giving a glimpse into what he is walking towards.

Key moments include:

✔ Growing up around real gang violence and the moment he realised staying in that world would destroy his future.

✔ The drastic decision he made as a young man to escape the environment he was surrounded by.

✔ Entering the Darien Gap and the exact moment his guide vanished, leaving him completely alone in one of the most lawless regions on earth.

✔ Walking through territory controlled by armed groups and the split second moment he realised a misunderstanding could turn dangerous.

✔ Running out of supplies in a hostile environment where dehydration, starvation and disorientation become lethal within hours.

✔ Waking to the sound of snakes moving around his camp and learning how to keep his nerve in areas known for crocodiles.

✔ The point exhaustion and hunger caused his mind to slip, leading to dangerous choices he had to claw back from.

✔ The unexpected local who found him during a collapse and the impact that moment had on turning the expedition around.

✔ The psychological crash after the Rio Negro and why it hit him harder than anything physical he has ever endured.

✔ The political, safety and logistical barriers already threatening the Congo world first long before he even reaches the start line.

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Follow Ellie McKay:

🔗 Website: https://onamissionpodcast.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

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Follow Daniel Eggington:

🔗 Website: https://danieleggington.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danieleggington?igsh=NjZtMnN5cXdzdHR4

🔗 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@danieleggington?si=p_PnNaQJZh4c_Sc7

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73 episodes