Explorer Benedict Allen’s wife orders him to get back home

Missing explorer Benedict Allen’s wife has told her husband to “get home - now”.

Speaking about her relief that Mr Allen was spotted in Papua New Guinea by a tribe’s chief she said: “It’s amazing.”

Mr Allen went missing when he embarked on a trip to find the Yaifo people, a reclusive tribe who have little contact with outsiders.

After he was spotted by a missionary in the remote Enga Province who said he asked to be rescued.

The Mail Online reported that Mrs Allen said: "Just tell him to get home – now. Get home as soon as you can, because the kids are desperate to see you.

"We have been having sleepless nights, and everyone has been thinking about him."

She said: "They are making preparations to get a helicopter to him. I found out about two hours ago ... It was a bit of a shock, but such a relief."

Mr Allen departed for Papua New Guinea in October and was meant to reach civilisation by Sunday.

No one knows what happened to him in the days that he went missing, however it is understood that he reached an old mission station in the rainforest on Thursday evening.

The TV presenter and author is said to immerse himself in local culture when he travels. On this particular trip he was seeking to spend time with the Yaifo Headhunters however it is not clear whether he reached the tribe before he went missing.

Mr Allen refuses to use technology or GPS systems when he embarks on his adventures as he sees this as "cheating".

There have been sightings of the explorer but so far his family have not been able to contact him directly.

However, he is not thought to be in any immediate danger as his agent, Jo Sarsby said that Keith Copley, the coordinating director for New Tribe Mission in Papua New Guinea, had confirmed to the family that Mr Allen was ‘safe, well and healthy’.

BBC security correspondent, Frank Gardner, who has travelled in the area with Mr Allen before warned that the rescue mission would not be easy.

He told the Mail Online: "The rivers are completely swollen and so the terrain is not very good.

"Plus there are dangerous people out there who would take advantage of him. For the moment he is in the best place possible."