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UK explorer Benedict Allen set to fly home UK explorer Benedict Allen set to fly home
(35 minutes later)
British explorer Benedict Allen is expected to be helicoptered out of the jungle in Papua New Guinea on Friday, the UK High Commissioner there says.British explorer Benedict Allen is expected to be helicoptered out of the jungle in Papua New Guinea on Friday, the UK High Commissioner there says.
The BBC's Frank Gardner said Mr Allen had been looked after by Christian missionaries after missing his flight home. He had been looked after by Christian missionaries after trekking large distances and missing his flight home, the BBC's Frank Gardner said.
He had been trekking large distances and had no means of communication. The 57-year-old had taken no means of communication with him, prompting his family to mount a search on Monday.
The 57-year-old was found alive and well on Thursday after a search was mounted for him. He was spotted alive and well on Thursday near a remote airstrip.
He was travelling on his own to try to find the reclusive Yaifo tribe, whom he first met 30 years ago. The airstrip, 20 miles north-west of Porgera, Enga Province, is said to be inaccessible by road.
He is expected to be on a plane home on Saturday. Mr Allen is expected to be flown from the area on Friday and to be put on a plane home on Saturday.
Reclusive tribe
Steven Ballantyne, an expedition leader and friend of Mr Allen, told the BBC on Thursday: "What we think is that he travelled much further than he anticipated, that he was going through much tougher terrain than he anticipated."
He had been travelling on his own to try to find the reclusive Yaifo tribe, whom he first met 30 years ago.
Before setting off, Mr Allen told the BBC he was hoping to make contact with the tribe, who were high up in a cloud forest.
He said he was unsure how they would receive him this time. His last text message read: "What could possibly go wrong?".
The explorer, from London, has previously crossed the Amazon Basin on foot and in a dug-out canoe, and participated in a six-week male initiation ceremony in which crocodile marks were carved onto his body.
He has filmed a number of his adventures for BBC documentaries and written books on exploration.