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Jungle explorer Benedict Allen tells of malaria and tribal wars | Jungle explorer Benedict Allen tells of malaria and tribal wars |
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Explorer Benedict Allen encountered a tribal war, was caught in electrical storms and fell ill with malaria and dengue fever on an ill-fated jungle trek in Papua New Guinea, he has said. | Explorer Benedict Allen encountered a tribal war, was caught in electrical storms and fell ill with malaria and dengue fever on an ill-fated jungle trek in Papua New Guinea, he has said. |
A search was mounted last week after Mr Allen missed planned flights. He was rescued by helicopter a few days later. | A search was mounted last week after Mr Allen missed planned flights. He was rescued by helicopter a few days later. |
Speaking to his friend, the BBC's Frank Gardner, Mr Allen, 57, said he was weak from malaria but was "bouncing back". | Speaking to his friend, the BBC's Frank Gardner, Mr Allen, 57, said he was weak from malaria but was "bouncing back". |
His worst moment had been making a video will for his family, he said. | His worst moment had been making a video will for his family, he said. |
Mr Allen, a father of three young children, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he never took satellite phones or GPS with him on expeditions, but might consider doing so in the future. | Mr Allen, a father of three young children, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he never took satellite phones or GPS with him on expeditions, but might consider doing so in the future. |
His family's distress at his apparent disappearance appeared across newspapers, TV and radio, and prompted the Daily Mail, a British newspaper, to send a helicopter into the jungle to rescue him. | His family's distress at his apparent disappearance appeared across newspapers, TV and radio, and prompted the Daily Mail, a British newspaper, to send a helicopter into the jungle to rescue him. |
You might also like: | You might also like: |
He said he had spent two days under observation at a hospital in Papua New Guinea before the doctors gave him the all-clear. | He said he had spent two days under observation at a hospital in Papua New Guinea before the doctors gave him the all-clear. |
Now back in the UK, he said he was weak from malaria - the sixth time he has had it - and "not that sharp mentally". | Now back in the UK, he said he was weak from malaria - the sixth time he has had it - and "not that sharp mentally". |
Mr Allen denied the search and rescue was a publicity stunt to raise his profile. | Mr Allen denied the search and rescue was a publicity stunt to raise his profile. |
"I videoed all of this and you can see me deteriorating with malaria," he told Today. | "I videoed all of this and you can see me deteriorating with malaria," he told Today. |
Sodden tablets | Sodden tablets |
Mr Allen, who has filmed a number of his adventures for BBC documentaries, said he had not got lost, but events had seemed to conspire against him. | |
"I always knew exactly where I was, things just began to go wrong," he said. | |
The trip had been hampered by a massive storm which swept away a vine bridge over a river. | |
He had also started to feel the symptoms of malaria and his tablets had become sodden in the wet. | He had also started to feel the symptoms of malaria and his tablets had become sodden in the wet. |
The final straw, he said, was when he discovered there was a war going on ahead of him and he could not get out. | The final straw, he said, was when he discovered there was a war going on ahead of him and he could not get out. |
"I had to make my way to the nearest airstrip and try to get any local plane to come in," he said. | "I had to make my way to the nearest airstrip and try to get any local plane to come in," he said. |
He filmed an appeal on his video camera asking for a message to his children, aged 10, seven and two, and wife, Lenka, to be taken to the British High Commission if he died. | He filmed an appeal on his video camera asking for a message to his children, aged 10, seven and two, and wife, Lenka, to be taken to the British High Commission if he died. |
Asked if this latest venture had been part of a mid-life crisis, Mr Allen said he saw himself as a professional - "a risk calculator, not a risk taker". | Asked if this latest venture had been part of a mid-life crisis, Mr Allen said he saw himself as a professional - "a risk calculator, not a risk taker". |
"On the very day the helicopter came, I had been gearing up to do a last walk out. | "On the very day the helicopter came, I had been gearing up to do a last walk out. |
"I thought I was 80-85% likely to be successful, so I hadn't given up," he said, in an interview from west London. | "I thought I was 80-85% likely to be successful, so I hadn't given up," he said, in an interview from west London. |
"I wasn't expecting to be rescued. | "I wasn't expecting to be rescued. |
"I never asked to be rescued but when it came - for the sake of my family - I thought 'I've got to do this'." | "I never asked to be rescued but when it came - for the sake of my family - I thought 'I've got to do this'." |
'Imperialist' accusation | 'Imperialist' accusation |
Mr Allen set out in October for Papua New Guinea to try to find the reclusive Yaifo tribe, who he first met 30 years ago. | Mr Allen set out in October for Papua New Guinea to try to find the reclusive Yaifo tribe, who he first met 30 years ago. |
The rainforest was, he said, an "extraordinary place that can work to pull you apart" - the "leeches, the constant rain, trees thumping down in the night, sleeping in a sort of swamp". | The rainforest was, he said, an "extraordinary place that can work to pull you apart" - the "leeches, the constant rain, trees thumping down in the night, sleeping in a sort of swamp". |
Among his travelling companions, natives of the rainforest, he knew he was the weakest and, after three weeks, knew he was "falling apart". | Among his travelling companions, natives of the rainforest, he knew he was the weakest and, after three weeks, knew he was "falling apart". |
Explaining his reasoning behind travelling alone without a phone, he said he tried to immerse himself in other people's worlds. | Explaining his reasoning behind travelling alone without a phone, he said he tried to immerse himself in other people's worlds. |
His back-up was the local people who were always friendly to him, he told BBC's Victoria Derbyshire, in his first TV interview. | His back-up was the local people who were always friendly to him, he told BBC's Victoria Derbyshire, in his first TV interview. |
"The forest to them is not a threat. It's their home and gives them their food, shelter, medicine, so I had a resource." | "The forest to them is not a threat. It's their home and gives them their food, shelter, medicine, so I had a resource." |
He also defended himself against accusations he was "an imperialist going in to see a lost tribe". | He also defended himself against accusations he was "an imperialist going in to see a lost tribe". |
"It wasn't like that. I simply had the privilege 30 years ago to meet these people. | "It wasn't like that. I simply had the privilege 30 years ago to meet these people. |
"I wanted to see that they were alive and well - and they were. | "I wanted to see that they were alive and well - and they were. |
"It was magnificent - a great welcome." | "It was magnificent - a great welcome." |
Mr Allen has previously crossed the Amazon Basin on foot and in a dug-out canoe, and participated in a six-week male initiation ceremony during which crocodile marks were carved onto his body. | Mr Allen has previously crossed the Amazon Basin on foot and in a dug-out canoe, and participated in a six-week male initiation ceremony during which crocodile marks were carved onto his body. |
Who is Benedict Allen? | Who is Benedict Allen? |
First solo adventure: To the Amazon at 22, during which he was shot at by two hitmen | First solo adventure: To the Amazon at 22, during which he was shot at by two hitmen |
Tough time: An initiation into manhood in Papua New Guinea. He was kept in a "crocodile nest" with 20 others and repeatedly cut with bamboo blades to leave scars that looked like crocodile scales | Tough time: An initiation into manhood in Papua New Guinea. He was kept in a "crocodile nest" with 20 others and repeatedly cut with bamboo blades to leave scars that looked like crocodile scales |
Low moment: Eating his own dog to survive | Low moment: Eating his own dog to survive |
Travel habit: Always keeps loo paper in a back pocket. "You know how it is," he told the Lonely Planet | Travel habit: Always keeps loo paper in a back pocket. "You know how it is," he told the Lonely Planet |
Philosophy: "For me personally, exploration isn't about conquering nature, planting flags or leaving your mark. It's about the opposite: opening yourself up and allowing the place to leave its mark on you." | Philosophy: "For me personally, exploration isn't about conquering nature, planting flags or leaving your mark. It's about the opposite: opening yourself up and allowing the place to leave its mark on you." |
Career: Six TV series for the BBC, author, motivational speaker | Career: Six TV series for the BBC, author, motivational speaker |
Family: Lives with family in Czech Republic | Family: Lives with family in Czech Republic |