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Missing Malaysia backpacker Gareth Huntley: Body found | Missing Malaysia backpacker Gareth Huntley: Body found |
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A body has been found in the hunt for a missing British backpacker in Malaysia. | A body has been found in the hunt for a missing British backpacker in Malaysia. |
Gareth Huntley, 34, from Cricklewood in north London, went missing while on a trek to a waterfall on Tuesday 27 May. | Gareth Huntley, 34, from Cricklewood in north London, went missing while on a trek to a waterfall on Tuesday 27 May. |
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "Malaysian police have confirmed that a body has been found on Tioman island in Malaysia." | A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "Malaysian police have confirmed that a body has been found on Tioman island in Malaysia." |
More than 100 people had been involved in the search for Mr Huntley, but Malaysian authorities were initially criticised over the search effort. | More than 100 people had been involved in the search for Mr Huntley, but Malaysian authorities were initially criticised over the search effort. |
BBC Correspondent Andy Moore said the body was found in a pond near the Juara Turtle project where Mr Huntley was living and working. | |
He said Malaysian authorities had been searching along the route to the waterfall, but were on their way back when they found a body close to a kayak storage area. | |
Mr Huntley's mother Janet Southwell had earlier said she believed her son had been injured but was still alive. | Mr Huntley's mother Janet Southwell had earlier said she believed her son had been injured but was still alive. |
She arrived in Malaysia on Monday and said she wanted to join the search for her son. | She arrived in Malaysia on Monday and said she wanted to join the search for her son. |
Helicopter search | |
The UK government said it had been assured "all available search assets" were involved in the hunt, which includes police officers and rescue teams. | |
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was in Malaysia on Sunday and was assured by his counterpart that the authorities had deployed significant assets including dogs, boats and a helicopter. | |
Mr Huntley's brother, Mark, arrived on the island on Monday and said 103 people were involved in the search alongside several helicopters and speedboats. | |
Johari Jahaya, the man leading the rescue team, had narrowed the hunt after finding clues in the area. | |
Mr Huntley left on his trek in the morning and told friends at the Juara Turtle Project he would return by 14:00 the same day. | |
He failed to come back so a group set out to search for him, checking various routes to the waterfall which is 6km away. |