Detectives fly to Africa to find missing explorer

Two detectives are flying to West Africa to help with the search for a British explorer missing for almost a year, it emerged today.

Christian Velten set out on a 4,000km solo expedition last February, aiming to emulate the achievement of 18th century explorer Mungo Park by tracing the path of the River Niger.

He was travelling alone, and planned to video the journey – which would take him across the Sahara Desert and through rainforest – for a documentary.

However, the 28-year-old’s parents, Pauline and Tim Velten, have not heard from him since March when he called from Kita in Mali and told them he was heading for the capital, Bamoka.

A search for the Edinburgh University graduate, who lives in East Sussex, has revealed that he was seen alive and well in a nearby village on April 9.

Although there have been other reports of a lone white man in the area, police have been unable to confirm them.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said two senior officers had now been invited to Mali to help with the hunt.

“They will help raise the profile of the investigation, provide forensic support, and hand over information prepared by our analysts about Christian’s movements.

“There has been no time limit set on the length of the visit,” he added.

Mr Velten, who had been due to return to Britain in July, is described as around 5ft 10in, of athletic build, with brown hair, brown eyes and possibly a beard.