A missing British explorer and author has been found “alive and well” near an airstrip in Papua New Guinea.
Benedict Allen had been travelling alone to try and locate the Yaifo tribe but had not arrived home on his arranged flight.
He last tweeted saying: “I may be some time (don’t try to rescue me, please – where I’m going in PNG you won’t ever find me you know…).”
Marching off to Heathrow. I may be some time (don't try to rescue me, please – where I'm going in PNG you won't ever find me you know…) pic.twitter.com/BmH1DKdheS
— Benedict Allen (@benedictallen) October 11, 2017
The BBC has reported that Allen was seen “alive and well” near an airstrip and that he has requested to be rescued.
The airstrip, however, is not accessible via road so it is hoped that the explorer will be picked up on Friday.
BBC‘s Frank Gardner told BBC Radio 4 that they recently had a “second sighting” of Allen.
“Tribal chiefs in the area that he went missing say that he has been sighted near an airstrip, that he’s okay, that his health is fine, that he’s requesting rescue.
“It’s always possible that they could have made a mistake, but I’m not aware of any other 57-year-old lanky British explorers that have gone missing in that area, so let’s hope that it isn’t a false glimmer of hope. But I think he’s going to be okay.”
Marching merrily off to Heathrow. Don't try to find me! Where I'm going, the forests of PNG – though lovely – can be very tricky, you know.. pic.twitter.com/emsFnhkVKO
— Benedict Allen (@benedictallen) October 4, 2017
Allen first travelled to find the reclusive Yaifo tribe 30 years ago.
While he was in Papua New Guinea, he was kept in a ‘crocodile nest’ with 20 other people and cut with bamboo to make it look like he had crocodile scales.
He once resorted to eating his own dog to survive.
