British man stranded in forest rescued by police, praises Vietnam's kindness

British expat Barry Mattacott, 63, was traveling by motorcycle from Quy Nhon to Da Nang when Google Maps led him onto a mountainous road, where he got lost and suffered a flat tire before police came to his aid.

Mattacott, who works as a marketing specialist in Vietnam, was riding a Kawasaki W650 around noon on Oct. 3 when, following directions from Google Maps, he turned onto a dirt road through the mountains and forest in Dang Thuy Tram Commune, Quang Ngai Province.

The road became increasingly difficult, with steep sections, rough rocks and mud. In some places, the motorcycle sank halfway into the mud. Eventually, the bike suffered a flat tire on a rocky slope.

Barry Mattacott (C) and Lieutenant Colonel Phan Tien Dung (R), head of Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police, and Captain Pham Trung Tien beside the motorcycle with a flat rear tire. Photo by Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police

Mattacott spent more than three hours walking while pushing his motorcycle in search of a way out. At around 2:30 p.m., local residents found him in the Kon Doc area and alerted commune police.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Tien Dung, head of Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police, and Captain Pham Trung Tien then drove a specialized vehicle to assist him. The two officers loaded Mattacott and his motorcycle onto their vehicle and drove them nearly 20 km to the nearest residential area, where he could find a repair shop.

After the tire was repaired, the officers continued to escort Mattacott to a main road so he could resume his journey.

In a handwritten letter in English acquired by VnExpress, Mattacott thanked the local residents and police for helping him.

He said he got lost while riding from Quy Nhon to Da Nang and found himself "on very rough road on the mountain." He was "very worried" that he could not find any help.

"Some kind local people called the police to help me. The police were so friendly and helpful."

"I don't think I would have been treated so well in any other country I have been to," he wrote.

Mattacott has traveled to 34 countries. He has been coming to Vietnam since late 2019 and usually travels by motorcycle.

Lieutenant Colonel Dung said the dirt road connecting the An Lao area of Gia Lai with Dang Thuy Tram Commune is mainly used by local residents and for forestry activities. The route has many steep and rocky sections, making it easy for people unfamiliar with the terrain to get lost.

The route where Barry Mattacott got lost in Quang Ngai in a photo he provided.

Before Mattacott, tourists from Canada, China, South Korea and the U.S. had also been directed onto the same road by Google Maps while traveling from Quy Nhon to Da Nang.

Dang Thuy Tram Commune Police advised tourists unfamiliar with the terrain to avoid the road, particularly during the rainy season, when muddy conditions, landslides and road isolation are more likely.