The search and rescue team looking for British national Gareth David Huntley, 34, who went missing since last week, found the body of a man behind the Lagoon Chalet, Kampung Juara, here, at 1.30pm, today.

The body of the man, who did not have identification documents, was found wearing only shorts about 50m from the beach.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Morni Mamat said it was difficult to identify the body as there was no identification documents while the face had rotted.

“To date, we have not identified whether the body was that of the British national who was reported missing prior to this.

“We are still waiting for the forensic unit from the Pahang Police Contingent Headquarters which is expected to arrive at 4pm today to conduct further investigation,” he told Bernama on the island today.   

Meanwhile, Rompin District Police chief DSP Johari Jahaya, when met at the scene, declined to comment further on the finding of the body.

According to Johari, the identity of the body could only be confirmed after the forensic unit arrived for confirmation and further investigation on the matter.

Huntley, 34, who was a volunteer at the Juara Turtle Project in Kampung Juara, was reported to have gone alone to the Lubuk Teja Waterfall area in the afternoon on Tuesday.

The man failed to return and his colleague and several villagers went out to look for him in the jungle area near the waterfall.

The search and rescue operation was carried out soon after his disappearance was reported on Thursday involving 154 people comprising Pahang police, Marine police, Rela, army and Fire and Rescue Department.

A total of seven tracker dogs from the Pahang Police Contingent Headquarters Tracker Dog Unit and Fire and Services Department, and a helicopter, were also used in the operation.

- Bernama