Malaysia police 'investigate Gareth Huntley fight claims'

Mohammad Zakaria Ahmad, a senior police official leading the investigation into the death of Briton Gareth Huntley, said he was investigating reports of a fight involving Mr Huntley shortly before his disappearance.

"These are rumours but we are looking into them," he told the Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Huntley's body was found in a pond just yards from a kayak storage shed at the Juara Turtle Project where he had been volunteering. The cause of death has not yet been established.

Read: 'Devastated' family pay tribute to Gareth Huntley

Malaysian police are investigating claims British backpacker Gareth Huntley was involved in a fight shortly before he went missing in the Malaysian jungle, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Huntley, 34, disappeared on May 27 when he went on a trek to a waterfall on Tioman Island, off the south-eastern coast of the country's mainland.

A body found on Wednesday, close to where he was living, has since been confirmed to be that of Mr Huntley.

Read: Police confirm body found is that of missing Brit

The family of British backpacker Gareth Huntley, who was found dead in the Malaysian jungle, have said that "no words can describe the void he will leave." In a statement, the family said:

"We would like to thank everyone who came together in the last week to do everything in their power to help find Gareth. You have been extraordinary and we are deeply touched and deeply grateful.

"There are no words that can capture the devastation we feel right now; no words that can capture the kindness, warmth and spirit that Gareth exuded; no words that can describe the void he will leave in all of the lives he touched.

"Gareth lived every minute of his life as fully as he could; never without a smile and always with others in his heart. You will never leave our hearts Gareth."

Police in Malaysia confirmed that the body was discovered on Tioman island was that of Gareth Huntley.

More: Police confirm body found in Malaysia is that of missing Brit

Police in Malaysia have confirmed that the body discovered on Tioman island is that of missing Briton Gareth Huntley.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said:

"Malaysian Police have now confirmed that the body found on Tioman island is Gareth Huntley.

The Foreign Office will remain in close contact with the Malaysian authorities and our staff continue to support Gareth's family at this tragic time."

Read: 'Body found' in Malaysia near missing Brit's last location

Officials in Malaysia have said that they have not ruled out the possibility of foul play in connection with the decomposing body found in the search for missing Briton Gareth Huntley, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported.

The body was found on Wednesday in a pond yards away from a kayak storage shed at the Juara Turtle Project where the 34-year-old had been volunteering.

Read: Mother of missing Briton gives DNA sample

Pahang state police chief Sharifuddin Ab Ghani said: "The cause of death is still undetermined, hence this case is still classified as sudden death at this stage, although we can't rule out any possibilities of foul play."

He told the paper that an iPhone was found near the body, but there was no sign of any of Mr Huntley's personal documentation.

He added that there did not appear to be any visible wounds and that the body did not look like that of a Malay.

The mother of a British backpacker who went missing in the Malaysian jungle has reportedly provided a sample of her DNA to help determine whether a body found on an island is her son.

More: Police tape around site where body found in Malaysia

Images from the site where a body was found in the search for missing British backpacker Gareth Huntley show a Malaysian pond surrounded by trees and a canoe rack cordoned off by police.

Police searching for missing British backpacker Gareth Huntley in the Malaysian jungle have found a body, the Foreign Office said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Malaysian police have confirmed that a body has been found on Tioman island in Malaysia.

"Foreign Office consular staff on the ground are continuing to work closely with the Malaysian authorities and are investigating with them as a matter of urgency. We continue to provide support to the family of Gareth Huntley at this very difficult time."

A body found in Malaysia near where missing Briton Gareth Huntley was last seen, is reportedly to have been located in the Mentawak River, some 20 yards from a kayak storage unit within the compound of the conservation camp Huntley volunteered in.

According to the Malaysian newspaper The Star, the body was behind a row of cabins which had been occupied by rescue operators over the last three days. The body was reportedly found in a nearby pond.

The Juara Turtle Camp has been cordoned off as a result, and has now become the site of a police investigation, the newspaper said.

The Foreign Office said that they are " aware" of reports that a body has been found in Malaysia. In a statement, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are aware that a body has been found and are looking into it".

Read: 'Body found' in Malaysia near missing Brit's last location