Buxton man shot in foot by Ethiopian police after missing checkpoint

Charles Wright is travelling in a 2004 Toyota Yaris and while driving through Ethiopia the 40-year-old says he unwittingly drove through an unmarked police customs checkpoint without stopping.

He said: “Next thing I know there were gun shots going off so I panicked and just kept driving - I didn’t realise it was the police shooting at me.

“They were spraying bullets at the car trying to pop the tyres and one deflected and came up through the footwell.

He added: “I saw a hole in my sock so I reached down and touched it and there was blood on my hand. That’s when I realised I’d been shot. I can’t believe I was shot by junta militia.”

Charles says he was forced to abandon the disabled vehicle and ran through the desert to try to escape.

However he was caught and then placed under police guard for six days and not allowed to leave.

He thinks they were trying to force him to pay a bribe so he could be released early.

Reflecting on his time in Ethiopia, he said: “Travel has taught me that my freedom is my wealth but when I was imprisoned I had no freedom.”

Eventually released, but with a swollen foot and a bullet in his heel, Charles made a trip to the local hospital.

He said: “While they were operating on me to remove the bullet there was a power cut and the surgeons were just using the torches on their phones and I was still awake with only local anaesthetic so I was very aware of what was going on and very worried about infection.”

Charles is no stranger to driving long distances. In 2024 he took on a 14 month mammoth road trip of 25,000 miles through 24 countries along the west coast of Africa.

He makes his money on social media with youtube and instagram videos documenting his trip.

He says viewers sponsor him and that covers his fuel needs. He has also converted the back of his car into a small kitchenette and sleeps in a tent when he is not invited to stay with his followers or friends he makes along the way.

Charles travels for around two months then returns to Buxton his home town, he grew up in Bennetston Hall, for a few weeks or so before flying back to continue his travels which are now out of Ethiopia and in Kenya.

He added: “This is my life now. I feel like a tourist when I come back.”

“I miss Bakewell Tarts and crumpets but I love my life on the road, a chance to travel and see the world, meet new friends and cultures and expand my view of the world.”

Charles sells merchandise on his instagram shop and if anyone would like to follow his journey visit @charlesworldtravel on instagram.