A BOLTON botanist lost in the jungle for five days survived by eating plants and drinking stream water.

John Gillatt, aged 55, from Heaton, became lost in dense jungle in Malaysia during a solo three-mile hike.

He had with him just an apple, an orange, three biscuits and a bottle of water - but they lasted just the first day of his ordeal.

Police found him safe and well on Thursday, six miles from the Smokehouse Hotel in Pahang, east Malaysia, where he had been staying.

It emerged that after his food ran out on Saturday, he used his botanist's knowledge to eat plants he knew to be edible and drink water from streams.

According to the Kuala Lumpur-based New Straits Times newspaper, Mr Gillatt had a few scratches and was visibly exhausted but was otherwise in good health.

He was found at 2.15pm on Thursday by a platoon of policemen who had been searching for him for several days.

Police first attempted to airlift him out of the jungle by helicopter but they were unsuccessful. Instead, he was escorted to a nearby waterfall, where an ambulance was waiting for him.

He was taken to a nearby town where he was given a preliminary medical check-up before being taken to Raub Hospital.

Mr Gillatt said he had only intended to hike thee miles along the Pine Tree trail. But he went alone, without a guide.

He said: "All I had with me was an apple, an orange, three biscuits and a bottle of water. All that was gone on the first day itself."

While lost, Mr Gillatt, who has two daughters, used his mobile phone to call his wife, Nolene. Police were notified and got in touch with him by phone, but all efforts to guide him to safety were futile.

Mr Gillatt also managed to get the mobile phone number of a guide and sent a text which read: "Gone for H2O. Will return here or another place where fone works. Saw red flashing light on hill some km maybe to my E (east). Pls tell rescuers. Also tell Brit High Comm in KL. I love u. XXX."

Gillatt feared he would not survive, according to the New Straits Times, but kept his hopes up through prayer.

He told the New Strait Times: "I found God. I never prayed before, but I was certainly praying these past five days and my prayers were answered.

"I was shouting every half an hour or so, hoping someone would hear me. Finally, today someone answered my shouts with a 'hello' and I knew I was saved."

Raub police chief Superintendent Ibrahim Md Aris said that Mr Gillatt had checked into the Smokehouse last Friday, for a break after attending a conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Police operations to find him was mounted last Sunday. Superindendent Aris said police commandos and the air unit was called to help locate him. Nearby residents were also urged to join in the search.

But despite his ordeal, Mr Gillatt says he still loves the jungle. He said: "I would recommend it to anyone. Just make sure you have a guide with you."