The following statement has been released at the request of the Gaskell family

We wish to pass on our sincere thanks for the support at home and in Malaysia that we have received during what is a difficult time for our family.

We also want to express our deep gratitude for the professional efforts of the local search teams who are going to great lengths to make sure everything possible is being done.

Specifically:

• The local volunteers from a rural village in the Bengoh area, Kampung Nyegol, which is a self-sufficient village that Andrew had visited during his travels in the area.

Some of the locals have travelled to Mulu National Park to help with the search, and we cannot thank them enough.

• The Malaysian people who have shown great support and helped raise awareness of the situation. The family are overwhelmed by their kindness and generosity of spirit.

We are in regular contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Consulate; and are very grateful for their ongoing support and advice at this time.

We urge anyone who is or was travelling abroad who knows anything, no matter how small, to come forward with the information.

We also encourage people to continue to use social media to share posts in an effort to help find Andrew.