Explorer Benedict Allen insists he did not need rescuing after disappearing in Papua New Guinea jungle

Professional explorer Benedict, who was missing for three days in remote jungle in Papua New Guinea 
Professional explorer Benedict, who was missing for three days in remote jungle in Papua New Guinea 

A British explorer who went missing while searching for a lost tribe in Papua New Guinea has insisted he did not need rescuing.

Benedict Allen was found on Thursday suffering from a malarial fever three weeks after entering the remote jungle.

The 57-year-old father-of-three, who had no mobile phone or GPS device with him, had been reported missing after failing to catch his flight home via Hong Kong last week.

Speaking from his home in west London today, he told his friend, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, that he had some regrets about not taking a phone or GPS device with him, but denied he "got lost".

He told the BBC's Today programme: “I always knew where I was, things just began to go wrong.”

Asked whether he needed rescuing, he added: “Er, it ... no.”

An image posted on Mr Allen's blog of the Yaifo tribe, who are thought to be one of the last to not have contact with the outside world
An image posted on Mr Allen's blog of the Yaifo tribe, who are thought to be one of the last to not have contact with the outside world  Credit: Benedict Allen

Mr Allen also insisted that his symptoms of malaria were genuine and that the episode had not been a publicity stunt.

“I can see why they get cynical and people have been known to do this, let's face it,” he said. “I videoed all of this and you can see me deteriorating with malaria.

“Well, I'm not up to speed with what people have been saying, I haven't read the newspapers, I gather there's been all this interest, I'm slightly bewildered by it.

“The journalists (on board the helicopter) when they turned up, I happily accepted their phone, they saw me with malaria and took me to hospital.”

Mr Allen said his final tweet before entering the jungle - which read: "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..." - might have prompted others to doubt the authenticity of his journey.

But he added: “People are asking this question because I joked on Twitter as I left. I had no commission, I did no interviews before I left.”

Mr Allen had entered the jungle hoping to reach the Yaifo, a tribe thought to be one of the last on Earth to have no contact with the outside world.

Benedict Allen and his wife Lanka at the Morgan Stanley Great Britons '05 awards ceremony at the Guildhall on January 26, 2006
Benedict Allen and his wife Lanka at the Morgan Stanley Great Britons '05 awards ceremony at the Guildhall on January 26, 2006 Credit: Getty

The explorer’s disappearance meant for three days his family back home did not know whether he was dead or alive. His wife, Lenka Allen, had 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 last week, Mrs Allen said: "It is such a relief. I'm so happy, it's amazing."

Fellow explorer Ben Fogle has since defended Mr Allen against accusations that he was "selfish" for undertaking such a treacherous expedition.

In his interview today Mr Allen joked that he needed "a good florist" to help apologise to his wife.

    License this content