MAJOR Ronald Foster finally left for Britain last night looking fragile and weary as he realised he is likely to face a barrage of media criticism over his decision to make money from his ordeal in the Malaysian jungle. Major Foster, 54, and his wife Jeanette, flew business class to Heathrow from where they eventually plan to travel home to Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, for a welcome-home party. But with the initial euphoria having noticeably ebbed away, a reticent Major Foster responded to his decision to sell his story to a London newspaper, believed to be the Daily Mail for GBP25,000 (HK$288,800). He said he would be giving a proportion of the money to Malaysian charities. ''I am not willing to say what proportion,'' he said. ''It is a gesture to the organisations that helped to take us out and I feel that is right.'' He was prevented from answering why he had decided not to give all the money to charity by director of public relations for British Forces Hong Kong, Roger Goodwin. ''I don't think it is appropriate for him to answer that at this time,'' Mr Goodwin said. Major Foster said he had felt his worst in the past 24 hours since he was plucked by joint British and Malaysian rescue teams from Low's Gully on Mount Kinabalu on Saturday. He was one of a five-man team who became stranded for three weeks with little food during an army adventure training expedition. Last night, wearing a jacket and tie for the first time in more than a month, Major Foster was taken to the airport in a mini-bus organised by the military and given a quiet send-off in the airport's VIP lounge. ''I am going to take it easy and quietly,'' he said. ''I am very pleased to be going home to the rest of my family.'' Major Foster has two children and two grandchildren. Mrs Foster, appearing uncomfortable with the attention, said she was looking forward to their lives getting back to normal. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Neill, 46, who led the expedition, spent last night at the British Military Hospital and is not expected to return to Britain for a few days. Private Chow Wai-keung, 24, also stayed at the hospital while Private Victor Lam Wai-ki, 27, and Lance Corporal Kevin Cheung Yiu-keung, 32, were allowed home. They will all remain under close medical supervision until they make a full recovery. The expedition will be the subject of a military inquiry.
