A British biologist who phoned home to tell his wife that he was lost in a rainforest 6,000 miles away recalled last night his five days of torment before being rescued.
John Gillatt, 56, set out from his resort hotel at Fraser's Hill, north of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, intending to enjoy a relaxing four-mile stroll. But having reached his intended destination he became disoriented on the return journey.
He climbed back up to a plateau and tried to retrace his steps. Eight and a half hours later he was hopelessly lost and his bag of provisions - an apple, an orange and three shortbread biscuits - was empty.
Frightened, exhausted and hungry, he used his mobile phone to call his wife, Noelene, at their home in Bolton. She alerted the authorities in Malaysia, who launched a search-and-rescue mission involving 150 police, three helicopters and the regional tourism minister.
Mr Gillatt managed to avoid leopards, poisonous snakes and tarantulas as he blundered through the increasingly wild terrain. He was eventually rescued on Wednesday afternoon when a Malay policeman heard his cries for help.
Last night, as he prepared to fly home to his 55-year-old wife and daughters, Claire, 32, and Dawn, 30, he joked: "It was only meant to be a four-mile walk, but it took me five days to get back. I suppose that's pretty slow going. ((snip))
Despite his ordeal, Mr Gillatt said he would still recommend trekking through the rainforest to anyone. But he had a caveat. "Just make sure you have a guide with you.''
