EXPLORER Benedict Allen, whose disappearance and dramatic rescue from the jungles of Papua New Guinea last week attracted huge national press coverage makes his first public appearance at Turner Sims Southampton tomorrow (Thursday).

Now in recovery from his ordeal, the author, adventurer and filmmaker reveals the full story of his return in 2016 to Papua New Guinea, as featured in the inspiring BBC Two series: Birds of Paradise: The Ultimate Quest.

Benedict travelled through the swamps and some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet, with the distinguished BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, in search of the island’s elusive birds of paradise.

Benedict is the only person known to have crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest. His adventures include the first documented journey of the length of the Namib Desert, and he is the only person known to have crossed the full width of the Gobi with camels alone. His journeys are depicted in his ten books (including two best sellers) six BBC television series, as well as other groundbreaking series for National Geographic TV, The History Channel and Channel Five.

Box Office 023 8059 5151 / turnersims.co.uk