The explorer Benedict Allen, has been rescued after losing all contact with his family while on a journey to Papua New Guinea.
Allen went to find one of the last tribes in the world that isn’t in contact with a civilization. He went to visit this tribe 30 years ago and went back this year, but things started to go downhill on this journey. First, a vine bridge he needed to cross was obliterated, and then he realized that he had the symptoms of malaria, a disease caused by mosquitoes. His anti-malaria tablets had gone soggy so he couldn’t do anything. Then he found out that two tribes were warring up ahead on the road he needed to take, and by now his malaria was terrible. This was the 6th time he had caught it, and he nearly died from it twice before.
He sheltered in a nearby monastery. He filmed a video for his family, saying he would be safe, although he thought he might not make it. Allen has three children, aged two, seven, and ten. A few people think his rescue was a PR stunt, but most think otherwise. He prefers the traditional method of exploring, not using any tracking devices or phones, but he recently said he would ‘think twice’ about not using them. Let’s hope he will stay safer during his next expedition.
By Daniel