Missing explorer Benedict Allen found ‘alive and well’ in Papua New Guinea

The UK explorer, who had been missing in Papua New Guinea for three weeks, is waiting to be picked up from a remote airstrip

UK explorer, Benedict Allen has been found after being missing for three weeks in a jungle in Papua New Guinea.

Allen was in search of the reclusive Yaifa tribe which he had first discovered around three decades ago. He has been found in a tribal war zone waiting for a rescue party in search for him.

Fears for his safety grew after he missed a planned flight back home on Sunday, and because he didn’t have a mobile phone or GPS device with him.

On Thursday it was confirmed that the 57-year-old father of three had been found.

"The good news is he's been sighted alive and well near a remote airstrip in Papua New Guinea, having tracked huge distances," Frank Gardner told BBC Breakfast on Thursday.

"He's requested rescue and efforts are under way to try and get him out. It's only a reported sighting but it's the second sighting and it's a tribal commission that's been looking for him and they've reported him in."

Gardner, who had previously joined Allen on some expeditions, said that his friend was being irresponsible.

"He left with no plan, he had no evacuation plan, he didn't give anybody any idea of where he was going," he said. "It's hardly surprising that he's missed his flight and he's caused a lot of people to be very worried about him. People who care about him. But he's an extremely tough, resilient and curious traveller.

His sister, Katy Petille told Sky News that this was the second time the explorer had gone missing. His three children, 10-year-old Natalya, seven-year-old Freddie and two-year-old Beatrice were “seriously worried”.

“His wife is being very brave but we are both very cross with him. It is typical of him to go off without GPS,” Petille said.