Missing British Explorer Benedict Allen Spotted In Papua New Guinea

A British explorer who went missing while searching for an elusive tribe in Papua New Guinea has been spotted near an airstrip in a remote area, according to his agent.

Writer and adventurer Benedict Allen, 57, was dropped off in a remote part of the southwestern Pacific nation by a helicopter several weeks ago. Search efforts were launched after he failed to show up for a scheduled flight on Monday, the BBC reported.

Allen’s agent, Jo Sarsby, told the BBC that Allen was located near an airstrip that is not accessible by car.

“Confirmation on exact location coordinates are now being confirmed in order to arrange evacuation as soon as possible,” she told the British broadcaster, adding that they hope a helicopter will extract him by Friday.

Allen was searching for members of the Yaifo tribe, a remote group that he first made contact with some 30 years ago.

In a September blog post on his website, Allen said he was interested to see how the tribe had changed from his first trip.

 “Last time … the Yaifo “greeted” me with a terrifying show of strength, an energetic dance featuring their bows and arrows,” Allen wrote. “On THIS occasion who knows if the Yaifo will do the same, or run off, or be wearing jeans and t-shirts traded eons ago from the old mission station.”

He said that like his journey decades before, he planned on venturing into the wilderness with no satellite phone, GPS or companion.

“But of course I may not even (have) made it there, even aged 26 it was a very hard hike up through rather treacherous terrain,” Allen said.

Shortly before leaving for Papua New Guinea, Allen jokingly tweeted “don’t try to rescue me, please.”

Looks like he will need to be rescued after all.