Search for Briton missing in Malaysian jungle intensifies after family steps in
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Version 0 of 1. The search for a British man missing in the Malaysian jungle has intensified following criticism from his family that the authorities had failed to take his disappearance seriously. Gareth Huntley, 34, failed to return to his guesthouse after setting out alone on what was meant to be a short jungle trek to visit a waterfall on Tioman Island four days ago. His mother, who believes her son is still alive, said on Saturday that she had just received information from the island that the previously lethargic search efforts by local police had been suddenly ramped up. Janet Southwell, speaking to the Guardian shortly before flying out to Malaysia to help in the search, said: "I've just had reports that the search has been escalated. There is a helicopter and a boat and 20 or 30 police persons looking." She complained, however, that she had yet to receive any contact from the Maslaysian authiorities and that not enough had been done in the crucial window after he had disappeared. Until now it had been left to volunteers to venture into the dense jungle. "You can live for a few days on water.We believe he should still be alive, but the more people we get out there looking for him the better," Southwell said. Huntley's brother, Mark, called on the Foreign Office to put pressure on local police and government officials to ensure sufficient personnel were engaged in the search operation. "We need real boots on the ground in Malaysia. We need real pressure from William Hague at the Foreign Office. So far we haven't heard a word from him or David Cameron. "Gareth's alone in the jungle. This was a man working out there as a wildlife volunteer. He deserves our assistance. "This situation of delayed searches is all too familiar. We call on David Cameron to make just one phonecall to the Malaysian authorities and kindly request they step up the search." Huntley, from Hackney in east London, was volunteering at the Juara Turtle project before his disappearance and had arranged to go snorkeling with friends after returning from the waterfall, a 6km walk away along well-marked trails. Search volunteer Charles Fisher described the area as a huge wilderness. He also condemned the police for their response. "The afternoon of the second day the police were informed. They sent a couple of members of the police force along to have a look, but didn't go far or look very much. They were just sort of assessing the situation," he said. "Then the next day a group of volunteers went out and looked then came back again. Another group from the local community also went out as well and went deep into the jungle. The police were no longer physically looking at that point. I think they were arranging for a search party, but nothing happened that day. "It's a huge wilderness out there, a remote location. He could have taken a wrong turn and just got lost in another valley. We just don't know. The trouble is the police probably don't have proper search equipment. They need extra support." A Foreign Office spokesman said that they were keeping a close eye on the situation and were liaising closely with the local authorities. In the 1970s, Time magazine selected the densely-forested Tioman as one of the world's most beautiful islands. Despite being a popular tourist destination for decades, it is still sparsely inhabited. |