A body matching the description of a missing British man has been found, eight days after he was caught up in an attack by Islamic State-linked insurgents in Mozambique.
The family of Philip Mawer said on Thursday that it appeared that he had died while trying to escape the deadly assault on the town of Palma last week.
Mozambique’s government has confirmed dozens of deaths in Palma, As many as 60 people – mostly foreign citizens – are unaccounted for following a deadly ambush on a convoy that was trying to escape Palma on Friday. Mawer is believed have been one of those killed.
Only seven vehicles in a convoy of 17 made it to safety after the attack, and among those that did make it through, at least seven people were confirmed dead.
Mawer’s family described him as a “much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend”.
A statement from Mawer’s employer, the leading remote site service provider RA International, on behalf of his family said: “Philip was an ebullient, outgoing character who had something of the lovable rogue about him. He had a wonderful sense of humour and could be relied on to find a humorous take on the most difficult of situations.
“The family is devastated by the loss, and he will be sadly missed. We would like to acknowledge the support we have received from friends, family and Philip’s colleagues in a period of tremendous anguish.”
RA international has confirmed that seven staff members, including Mawer, remain unaccounted for following the attack on 24 March in Palma.
On Thursday, a boat carrying 1,200 survivors – some of whom had spent days hiding in the bush – reached safety in the port of Pemba.
The statement from Mawer’s family goes on to say: “It was the nature of his chosen line of work to be in the more dangerous corners of the world, and Philip’s career had previously taken him to Somalia, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Afghanistan and Yemen. His ability to get things done in the most hostile of environments made him a valued colleague.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson has said in response to news that a body had been found in the hunt for Mawer: “We’re deeply concerned by this latest development. We are in close contact with the family and are working with the government of Mozambique and the Met police to confirm further details. We stand with the people of Mozambique against the threat of terrorism and are working with the government to restore peace and stability.”
The rebels are thought to have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced an estimated 670,000 throughout three years of fighting in the country.
