John Allen Chau embarked on a 'crazy' journey in a bid to get his message across to a remote tribe - but the decision proved fatal.
The American missionary was determined to share his belief in Jesus and convert the Sentinelese people to Christianity. John set off to where they live on North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean on November 16, 2018.
Prior to his mission, he penned a letter to his family that explained his motives, and asked them for forgiveness in the event of his death. He wanted to tell the uncontactable group, who vigorously reject all contact with outsiders, about Jesus after learning about the tribe in school.
While he hoped to be welcomed, the group instantly killed him when he arrived at the shore in a canoe. For thousands of years, the Sentinelese people have survived on their own island, roughly the size of Manhattan, without contact with the outside world.
He was determined to convert the tribe (Internet Unknown)
The missionary explored different parts of the world (Instagram)They attack anyone who comes near their home for fear of being wiped out by diseases such as flu, to which the Sentinelese have no immunity. Some reports alleged the tribe practised cannibalism, however this reportedly grew as a result of a misunderstanding with neighbouring tribe Onge, who cut up and burn the flesh of their deceased to prevent them from being consumed by evil spirits.
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Despite their notorious hostility, John went ahead with his expedition but was last seen alive when a fisherman he hired left him in unprotected waters. His death wasn't witnessed, however a fisherman alleged he saw a "dead person being buried at the shore" that looked like John when they returned to collect him a few days later. It is believed he was killed by arrows.
The missionary had left his journal with the fishermen, with a note for his loved-ones. He declared his motive to 'establish the kingdom of Jesus on the island'. He asked them not to 'blame the natives if I am killed'.
"You guys might think I'm crazy in all this but I think it's worth it to declare Jesus to these people," he began. "Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed. Rather please live your lives in obedience to whatever he has called you to and I'll see you again when you pass through the veil. This is not a pointless thing - the eternal lives of this tribe is at hand and I can't wait to see them around the throne of God worshipping in their own language as Revelations 7:9-10 states."
In a final note, he added: "I love you all and I pray none of you love anything in this world more than Jesus Christ." Following his death, a statement was issued by his family, who fulfilled his last wish of forgiveness.
They said: "We recently learned from an unconfirmed report that John Allen Chau was reported killed in India while reaching out to members of the Sentinelese Tribe in the Andaman Islands. He loved God, life, helping those in need and had nothing but love for the Sentinelese people.
"We forgive those reportedly responsible for his death. We also ask for the release of those friends he had in the Andaman Islands." Stephen Corry, director of Survival International - an organisation that works in partnership with tribes, argues that John's death could have been preventable.
At the time, Mr Corry said: "This tragedy should never have been allowed to happen. The Indian authorities should have been enforcing the protection of the Sentinelese and their island for the safety of both the tribe, and outsiders.
"Instead, a few months ago the authorities lifted one of the restrictions that had been protecting the Sentinelese tribe's island from foreign tourists, which sent exactly the wrong message, and may have contributed to this terrible event.
"It's not impossible that the Sentinelese have just been infected by deadly pathogens to which they have no immunity, with the potential to wipe out the entire tribe. The Sentinelese have shown again and again that they want to be left alone, and their wishes should be respected.
"The British colonial occupation of the Andaman Islands decimated the tribes living there, wiping out thousands of tribespeople, and only a fraction of the original population now survive. So the Sentinelese fear of outsiders is very understandable.
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"Uncontacted tribes must have their lands properly protected. They're the most vulnerable peoples on the planet. Whole populations are being wiped out by violence from outsiders who steal their land and resources, and by diseases like the flu and measles to which they have no resistance.
"Tribes like the Sentinelese face catastrophe unless their land is protected. I hope this tragedy acts as a wake up call to the Indian authorities to avert another disaster and properly protect the lands of both the Sentinelese, and the other Andaman tribes, from further invaders."
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