Gaskell sparked an intense search and rescue mission after he went missing on October 20 while on a hiking trip to Sarawak’s remote Mulu National Park.
The 26-year-old engineer was found yesterday afternoon by a search and rescue (SAR) team about 5km from Miri Airport.
Gaskell’s disappearance was only reported on October 26, six days after he failed to return to the house of a friend, Timothy Kallang.
Borneo Post reported that he survived on unripe banana, river water and ferns. He drank only river water for the first six days before hunger forced him to eat some ferns.
He was dehydrated and in a weakened condition with blisters on his feet. He was treated at Miri General Hospital as an outpatient after being airlifted by a SAR helicopter.
According to a source quoted in the Borneo Post report, Gaskell slept under rocks and kept moving every day, trying to find his way back. He fell into a river once but didn’t suffer any serious injuries.
The SAR team found Gaskell in Hidden Valley, part of Camp 4 Mulu National Park, about 24km from the base camp.
Assistant fire superintendent Ahmad Fissol Ismail said the ground party found the victim.
Sixty three personnel made up five SAR teams. The police, firefighters, and park management were involved along with some local people.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Lee Kim Shin said he followed the efforts by the SAR teams closely.
“Tourists should observe the park rules for their own safety,” he said in a statement congratulating the SAR teams.