A body has been found in the hunt for a British man who disappeared while on a trek in the Malaysian jungle.
Gareth Huntley has not been seen since last Tuesday when he went to visit a waterfall in Tioman Island, off the south-eastern coast of the country’s mainland.
The 34-year-old from Hackney, who was volunteering at the charity the Juara Turtle Project, told colleagues he would return by 2pm that day but he failed to do so.
Police confirmed that a body was found today in a pond 20 metres from the charity’s conservation camp.
Deputy Superintendent Johari Yahaya said the man’s body was nearby a kayak storage unit within the camp. He did not confirm whether it was the missing Brit, who was on a sabbatical from his job as an accountant in the City.
Colleagues from the turtle conservation project raised the alarm when he failed to return.
The slow pace of the initial search and rescue effort was criticised by friends and relatives.
However, by Monday more than 100 people were involved in the search, including canine teams, army commandos and fire rescue workers.
The Foreign Office says it is aware of the reports and is looking into them urgently.
Mr Huntley’s mother, Janet Southwell, has also been notified.
She arrived on the island on Monday to assist the search effort.
At the time, she said: “I want to see the area for myself and get a feel for where he’s lost, where he’s missing.
“I just want to be here when they find him because I think he will want to see a familiar face.
“I’m obviously very concerned. It’s going to be a good outcome, so I just have to focus on that.”
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