Papua New Guinea explorer Benedict Allen evacuated by helicopter and treated for suspected malaria

Benedict Allen,
Explorer Benedict Allen was dropped into the remote jungle three weeks ago Credit: Steve Watkins/Jo Sarsby/PA

A British explorer who went missing on an expedition to reach a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea has been evacuated by helicopter and is being treated for suspected malaria.

Benedict Allen, 57, who has no mobile phone or GPS device with him, was dropped into the remote jungle three weeks ago.

He was hoping to reach the Yaifo, a tribe thought to be one of the last on Earth to have no contact with the outside world.

The explorer was reported missing earlier this week after he failed to board a flight back home via Hong Kong on Sunday.

His agent, Jo Sarsby, confirmed on Thursday that he had been seen near a remote airstrip, and said efforts were under way to evacuate him.

Benedict Allen 
Benedict Allen was hoping to reach the Yaifo tribe

In a statement on Friday, his agent said: "We can confirm that Benedict Allen has been evacuated by helicopter and is now safe in Port Moresby.

"He is reported as feverish with suspected malaria. Benedict looks forward to being reunited with his family and friends but will need some time to get back to full health.

"He would like to send thanks for all the kind messages he has received."

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, a friend of the explorer, tweeted that Mr Allen was due to be on a plane home on Saturday.

Mr Allen's wife Lenka Allen previously told how the couple's children - 10-year-old Natalya, Freddie, seven, and two-year-old Beatrice - were missing their father.

After hearing of sightings of Mr Allen, she said: "It is such a relief. I'm so happy, it's amazing."

 Benedict Allen
Benedict Allen and his wife Lenka Credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty

In a blog post on his website in September, Mr Allen described the Yaifo as "one of the last people on the entire planet who are out of contact with our interconnected world".

"Just like the good old days, I won't be taking a sat phone, GPS or companion. Or anything else much," he wrote.

"Because this is how I do my journeys of exploration. I grow older but no wiser, it seems."

 

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