Two friends on 18-month Amazon trek fall out after just 68 days - in row over iPod

Packed with equipment for their epic trip across the Andes the two young adventurers were ready to tackle snakes, Maoist guerrillas and more than 4000 miles of jungle paths.

What they hadn't counted on, however, was how they’d cope with each other’s company.

Ed Stafford (right) and Luke Collyer planned to walk the Amazon until they fell out

The two Britons Stafford, 37, and Collyer, 32, had planned to walk the entire route of the Amazon from source to its mouth – a massive trek that had never before been attempted.

The trip was due to last around 18 months but within 68 days the two had fallen out – over an iPod.

Last week, Stafford lost his temper when Collyer asked for a supply parcel to be sent which only contained one MP3 player.

Writing on the expedition’s blog, Stafford wrote:

‘I insisted that Luke wrote an email to ... his fiancee's mother, asking her to only send specific items essential to the expedition.

'I could tell he was not happy but I wanted to make sure we were not sending stuff unnecessarily. On the list Luke read to me was 1 x MP3 player.

‘This annoyed me, as he had told me he was ordering one and offered to get me one too.

‘I said to him, 'Mate, why have you only put 1 x MP3 player? You know that I wanted one too.'

‘'Because I'm leaving the expedition, that one's for you,' said Luke.

Stafford continues: 'There was a hint of defiance in his voice but mostly tiredness.

'We need to discuss this.? I said, my leg actually staring to tremble because of the gravity of the situation.

'No point, Luke replied, I have been waiting to tell you for a while now my mind is made up.'

They set off on April 2 from the source of the Amazon river in southern Peru to the mouth in Brazil but within weeks had fallen out on several occasions.

Early last week Stafford, from Leicester, wrote: 'If I'm honest at this stage the hardest thing has been getting on well with Luke ...

'Basically when your brain has nothing to focus on it can direct this energy into the only thing it can - your partner! We knew that we could be susceptible to this but underestimated the degree.'

The pair were attempting to walk the entire 4000 mile length of the Amazon through thick jungle

'I have to agree with Ed on this,' Collyer wrote. 'So far we have had to deal with dry arid desert conditions, altitude, snow and freezing temperatures, steep climbs followed by steep descents, and fast flowing rivers. But the real test has definitely been with each other.'

The exact reason why the pair failed to get along remains unclear but according to their public relations team it had more to do with the stresses of the expedition than any bad blood.

Their spokeswoman, Vikki Rimmer, said : 'The expedition is incredibly tough both physically and mentally.

'Their back packs are 45lbs each and yet they're climbing mountains and wading through jungle.

'It's an enormous undertaking for anyone, let alone experienced adventurers like Ed and Luke.

'It's not a walk in the park and is something that will test every part of you and Luke has a fiance back home, so maybe he couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer.'

In the meantime Stafford is seeking a new companion and has instructed a survival expert, a good friend and, more importantly, his mother to sit on a selection panel back in the UK.

Battling on alone: Ed Stafford has advertised for a new trekking partner to join him on his epic voyage

In his blog entry on Wednesday, Stafford has said that he will battle on alone.

"Luke left this morning at 5am on the bus to Lima. From there he will fly home to the UK. It was a funny day walking without him but the expedition goes on.

Meanwhile, Stafford’s press release is quite specific in the qualities required in a potential trek buddy:

‘Must have GSOH, no fear of snakes or gun-toting guerrillas, have three months to spare, an interest in the environment and an ability to walk long distances without asking 'are we nearly there yet?’

Whilst Stafford headed into the Peruvian jungle controlled by the Maoist Shining Path guerilla group, Collyer claimed he had decided to quit the expedition to preserve his friendship.

'I didn't want to end up bitter and angry with after two years, and our friendship meant a lot to me,' he said.

In response his former partner added: 'I'd like to say thanks for everything mate and good luck in whatever you decided to do now.'