Daniel Olifi, 26, and James Moynihan, 27, decided to spend three weeks camping in the Kuantan rainforest 'to see if it could be done'
A PAIR of hapless university pals spent three weeks living off bugs as they wandered NAKED around a Malaysian jungle - after watching Bear Grylls on TV.
Daniel Olifi, 26, and James Moynihan, 27, decided to spend three weeks camping in the Kuantan rainforest "to see if it could be done" - but gave up after 16 days when Daniel cut his hand on a machete.
The survival nuts - who met on a film course at Southampton's Solent University - lost 46lbs between them after living on bugs and berries for half a month.
They nearly ran out of water on the first day, and regularly blacked out from hunger.
Finance worker Daniel said: "You can really step on a snake at any point and not know it, or hypothermia can get you.
"You realise: 'Damn! This is how idiots die in the wild and are never found'.
We did it without clothes - to strip ourselves down to the bare minimum - to show that it can be done
Daniel Olifi
"It was tough. Our bodies were cannibalising our muscle for energy just to stay alive.
"We did it without clothes - to strip ourselves down to the bare minimum - to show that it can be done."
On the first day, Daniel sliced his hand on a machete as he tried to build a shelter - and was forced to superglue it shut to battle infection.
But the quick fix didn't work, and they sacked off the trip after the wound started smelling of "rotten flesh".
Daniel wrote at the time: "My hand is still not healing and smells rotten. James and I question how long I can stay in the jungle before it gets severely infected."
They flew home to England after several days spent recovering in Kuala Lumpur, where they gorged on crisps, cookies, pizzas, and burgers.
James said: "I'm a bit of a gambling man, whether it be on football or the horse.
"But how many people can say they have gambled with their life?
"Everyone will face life-and-death situations, but it's normally not planned. And most people wouldn't choose to put themselves in that situation.
"I have, and I can tell you that Malaysia was the most rewarding gamble I've ever taken because now I can say I've felt what it's like to have lived."
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