Benedict Allen rescued with suspected malaria in Papua New Guinea

An explorer who was feared lost in the Papua New Guinean jungle has been rescued with suspected malaria five days after he went missing.

Benedict Allen, who has made programmes for the BBC, had gone travelling alone in an attempt to find the Yaifo tribe, one of the few left in the world that has little to no contact with outsiders, and which he first visited 30 years ago.

Fears for his safety grew after he missed a planned flight home on Sunday amid criticism from friends and family of his decision not to take a satellite phone or tracking devices.

On Friday Allen’s agent told the Guardian he had been rescued by helicopter from a remote airstrip in central Papua New Guinea. “He has been picked up and is safe,” a spokeswoman for Jo Sarsby Management said.

A statement from the company added: “We can confirm that Benedict Allen has been evacuated by helicopter and is now safe in Port Moresby. He is reported as feverish with suspected malaria. Benedict looks forward to being reunited with his family and friends but will need some time to get back to full health. He would like to send thanks for all the kind messages he has received.”

Steven Ballantyne, a Hong-Kong-based fixer who has been coordinating Allen’s rescue, confirmed that all was well.

Writing on Facebook he said: “I have now spoken to Benedict Allen – it was good to hear his voice and to know all is now well – Benedict has had quite an adventure and we should be proud that he, with the help of many amazing people in PNG, came so far.”

Later he told the Guardian: “I had advised advised Benedict to travel with a member of my own team in Papua New Guinea for safety.”

Simon Tonge, the UK high commissioner in Papua New Guinea, told the BBC Allen would be flown home tomorrow.

The BBC’s security correspondent, Frank Gardner, a close friend of Allen, reported that he was recovering from a fever. He suggested this might account for why he went missing.

Allen was expected to have returned to the capital, Port Moresby, by Sunday to catch a flight to Hong Kong, where he was scheduled to speak to the Royal Geographical Society.

In one of his last tweets before getting lost he urged friends not to come and find him.