A long-time BBC presenter and explorer who went missing while trekking through the jungle in Papua New Guinea has been spotted 'alive and well'.
Benedict Allen, 57, has previously made six BBC series documenting his adventures and was dropped by helicopter into a remote area, which is home to what is thought to be the last remaining cannibal tribe. That sounds pretty hardcore.
Credit: BBC
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He had refused to carry a mobile phone or GPS. No, we don't know why either.
Allen's last tweet, posted to Twitter on October 11, read: "Marching off to Heathrow. I may be some time." He had not been seen or heard from since.
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However, this morning, BBC Security Correspondent Frank Garner tweeted that a helicopter search party had sighted him.
There's still no information as to his health or condition, but BBC reports state that he "had asked to be rescued - and efforts were under way to retrieve him."
The adventurer was hoping to reunite with the reclusive Yaifo tribe, who are thought to be the last on Earth to have no regular contact with the outside world.
But he admitted that he didn't know whether or not he would be able to manage the intense jungle trek and, if he did, whether or not the tribe would welcome his return. Talk about rolling the dice.
Credit: BBC
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The presenter sparked fears when he failed to arrive in capital Port Moresby for a flight to Hong Kong on Sunday.
His sister, Katie Pestille, told the Mirror: "There are bad people in these jungles... loggers and drug dealers and all sorts of bad people."
Credit: BBC
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Worried wife, Lenka, last night revealed that she had told their children, "Daddy's lost."
The Czech-born former nurse said: "The little one, Beatrice, is always saying 'daddy' and she's trying to telephone him on my mobile, looking at his photo on the screen.
"They all sense the tension in the flat, and they are worried, deep down.
"The two other ones, they are saying, 'When is daddy coming so we can go shopping? Just me and you, and daddy can babysit', that sort of thing. But of course, now they know he's in danger they are seriously worried."
In his last tweet on October 11, Benedict said: "I may be some time. Don't try to rescue me, please - where I'm going you won't ever find me..."
However, BBC journalist Frank Gardner, who had previously visited the country with Allen, said that the presenter had told him "people shouldn't worry" if he was out of contact for a long time.
He added: "I'd say the chances are Benedict is going to be fine. I hope those aren't famous last words."
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Source: The Mirror
Featured Image Credit: BBCTopics: UK News, TV and Film, BBC
