Body Found on Malaysian Island Where Briton Went Missing

A Malaysian rescue team searching for missing British tourist Gareth Huntley found a body on Wednesday near a conservation project where he had served as a volunteer, a fire and rescue official said.

Huntley, 34, went missing on May 27 during a jungle trek on Tioman Island off the eastern coast of Malaysia, sparking a major manhunt and expressions of deep concern in Britain, including from Prime Minister David Cameron.

"We found a body this morning but we have not verified whether it is the missing person or someone else," said Morni Mamat, deputy director of the Pahang state fire and rescue department.

Morni told Agence France Presse a forensics team was heading to the popular tropical resort island to examine the body.

"We will probably know today whether it is him," he said.

Morni said the body was found near a turtle conservation project site where Huntley had served as a volunteer.

Malaysia has deployed dozens of search personnel in recent days, after Huntley's friends set up a Facebook page, partly to press for a more intensive search by Malaysian authorities still smarting from international criticism over their response to missing flight MH370.

AFP could not immediately reach friends and family of Huntley who had traveled to Malaysia to be near the search efforts.