UK scientist missing in the jungle eats shoots and lives

A BRITISH scientist missing in the Malaysian jungle for five days was rescued after making an emergency mobile phone call to his wife in the UK, his family said yesterday.

John Gillatt, 55, from Bolton, went trekking at Fraser’s Hill near Pahang in east Malaysia last Friday. But after walking for six miles, the microbiologist realised he was lost and used his mobile to call his wife Noelene at home.

She contacted the Smokehouse Inn, where he was staying and a search party was launched.

Mr Gillatt was rescued on Wednesday, dehydrated and exhausted and with bruises to his arms and legs.

Yesterday, his family spoke of their joy after hearing he had survived. Daughter Claire, 29, said: "Dad had gone out there on business and had taken the weekend off to go walking.

"He is an experienced walker but he got lost and phoned home. A search party went out looking for him and he was found yesterday."

She added: "We are all very tired. We haven’t really slept for five days since we knew he was missing. We are just glad he is safe."

Mr Gillatt, a chartered biologist, told the Kuala Lumpur-based New Straits Times that after his food ran out he survived on plants and water from streams.

The father of two said: "All I had with me was an apple, an orange, three biscuits and a bottle of water. All that was gone on the first day itself."

Mr Gillatt, who is originally from Maidenhead, Berkshire, and lived in Kuala Lumpur between 1995 and 1996, added: "I found God. I never prayed before, but I was certainly praying these past five days and my prayers were answered.

"I was shouting every half an hour or so, hoping someone would hear me. Finally, someone answered my shouts with a ‘hello’ and I knew I was saved."

As well as calling his wife, Mr Gillatt also managed to send a text message to a guide at Fraser’s Hill.

It said: "Gone for H2O. Will return here or another place where fone works. Saw red flashing light on hill some km maybe to my E. Pls tell rescuers. Also tell Brit High Comm in KL."

Despite his ordeal, Mr Gillatt said he would "recommend trekking through the rainforest to anyone". But he added: "Just make sure you have a guide with you."

Fraser’s Hill is about 65 miles north of Kuala Lumpur and on the main mountain range between the states of Selangor and Pahang.

There are a number of trails which walkers can follow and it is a good place for bird watching, photography and botany.

South African-born Mrs Gillatt said it was "an incredible story".

"But it’s an experience I never, ever want to go through again," she added.

Mr Gillatt phoned home to say he was lost early on Sunday morning, but the family did not hear he was safe until yesterday.

Mrs Gillatt said: "John was quite calm and collected and was clearly being very practical about matters. He asked me to telephone the hotel where he was staying and make a couple of other calls.

"He assured me that apart from being a bit sore from walking and mosquito bites, he was otherwise okay.

"It was an awful time for us, but thankfully we had lots of support from friends and family and we tried to keep busy by taking care of practical things that needed to be taken care of."

Mrs Gillatt added: "John’s a very quirky man, and though he’s never got badly lost before, he loves to take off on his own and experience life at first hand."