Not even 50,000 mosquito bites could keep one former British army captain from fulfilling his dream.

On August 9, 33-year-old Ed Stafford became the first man to walk the entire length of the Amazon River.

"Two and a half years of walking through the Amazon and we're here at last," the jubilant adventurer said.

During the 4,000-mile journey, Stafford battled stifling temperatures, illness, poisonous snakes, and even food shortages. To survive, the Briton lived off of piranha, rice and beans.

"I've learned to take confidence in myself and to listen to my gut and ignore negative people, really," the former army captain said. "Everyone told me I was crazy when I was doing this. I've been told I was going to be killed so many times that I can't remember how many times. But, I'm not dead. I'm here now and, yeah, anyone can achieve what they want to achieve if they work hard enough."

Stafford celebrated his accomplishment by jumping into the Atlantic Ocean.

"It's just fantastic," Stafford said. "I didn't think it was going to sink in here and now. But I'm just overwhelmed.  It's fantastic."
    
The former army captain said he's planning another record-breaking adventure later this summer.