Jungle explorer Benedict Allen has insisted he did not get lost or need rescuing after he fell ill during a mission to find a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea.
The British explorer, 57, made a video will for his family but has since told how he had not given up and was “gearing up” to leave after being struck by malaria.
A search was launched to find him after he missed several planned flights and his family’s distress at his apparent disappearance made headlines in the UK.
"I thought I was 80-85 per cent likely to be successful so I hadn't given up," he told the BBC.
"I wasn't expecting to be rescued. I never asked to be rescued but when it came - for the sake of my family - I thought 'I've got to do this.'"
Mr Allen said he had been struck by malaria for the sixth time and that he had encountered a tribal war during the expedition.
He said he may consider taking a satellite phone and GPS with him on future adventures after not doing so this time around.
The explorer spent two days under observation at a hospital in Papua New Guinea before he was released.
After arriving back in the UK, he said he was “bouncing right back” but not feeling “that sharp, mentally”.
Mr Allen said his latest trip was hampered by a huge storm which swept away a vine bridge over a river, the BBC reported.
He had also started to feel the symptoms of malaria and his tablets had become sodden in the wet, he told the broadcaster.
The final straw was when he discovered there was a war going on ahead of him and he could not leave, he said.
