American killed by tribe after ignoring island ban

An American man who ignored advice to stay away from an island where the indigenous people are protected has been killed by its inhabitants. 

The 27-year-old died on North Sentinel island, part of the India-controlled Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

The islanders are one of the few tribes completely cut off from the rest of the world and are known to fire at outsiders with bows and arrows.

Indian police officials confirmed the death and said seven fishermen who allegedly aided the visit had been arrested.

The man killed has been identified as John Allen Chau.

Image:The Sentinelese have lived on their island for up to 55,000 years. Pic: © Survival International

Indian media reports said he was on an “adventure trip” and that his body had been found by the fishermen.

But local police officer Vijay Singh told the AP news agency that police were still in the process of recovering the body.

North Sentinel is protected and not open to tourists – who also have to apply for a permit to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands if they are foreigners.

The Sentinelese are said to be at risk of death if they have contact with outsiders as they have no immunity to common diseases like flu and measles.

Estimates as to the number of tribespeople who survive vary from 200 to as low as 40.

Image:This member of the tribe was photographed firing arrows at a helicopter after the 2004 tsunami. Pic: © Indian Coastguard/Survival

Two Indian fishermen were killed on the island in 2006 when their boat broke loose and drifted onto the shore – but no action was reportedly taken in that case. 

Poachers are also known to fish illegally in the waters around the island, catching turtles and diving for lobsters and sea cucumbers.

source: Sky News