A British scientist who disappeared in the Malaysian jungle for five days returned home Friday to an emotional reunion with his wife and two children.

A gaunt-looking John Gillatt, 55, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, in the north of England said the first thing he was looking forward to was "a curry and a glass of champagne".

Gillatt was reunited with his wife Noelene, 46, and daughters Dawn Parry, 30 and Claire Gillatt, 28, after flying in to Manchester airport from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Gillatt, an experienced long-distance walker, said he had done "all the things I shouldn't have" when he wandered into the jungle without a map or compass last Friday at Fraser's Hill near Pahang.

After walking for more than 10 kilometres (six miles), the microbiologist realised he was lost, and used his mobile phone to call his wife at home in England. She in turn contacted the hotel where he was staying.

Five-day ordeal

While a search party was organised to find him, Gillatt was left to survive for five days on just an apple, an orange, some shortbread biscuits and a bottle of water, he recalled Friday.

Gillatt, who lost more than 6.3 kilograms (14 pounds) during his ordeal, said he had been lost for more than a day before he could get to high enough ground to get a mobile phone signal.

"I won't be letting him out on his own from now on without a long leash - actually, make that a very short leash," said Mrs Gillatt as she fought back tears upon her husband's return.