Missing Australian Hiker Found Safe On Mount Santubong

KUCHING, April 24 (Bernama) -- An Australian woman who was reported missing while hiking Mount Santubong here yesterday was found safe at 11.59 am today after a search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched last night.

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) said the victim, identified as Belinda Lapier, 43, who was believed to have been descending from the mountain peak, was found by the rescue team with only minor injuries.

“On the second day, the SAR operation resumed this morning and the operation commander informed that the victim’s location had been identified in the F7 area (of the SAR operation) at 10.30 am. The rescue team managed to communicate by calling out the victim’s name,” JBPM Sarawak said in a statement today.

Efforts to reach the victim were challenging due to the extremely steep terrain, estimated at a 90-degree gradient, as well as the presence of large rocks and fallen trees.

“The victim was finally found at 11.59 am in a safe condition, and initial investigations found that she was believed to have strayed from the original route in the F10 area while descending from the mountain,” the statement said.

The SAR team is currently in the process of bringing the victim out of the mountainous area to the main road for further action.

Yesterday, JBPM Sarawak said it received an emergency call on the incident at 8.20 pm and arrived at the location at 9.43 pm before commencing the SAR operation.

-- BERNAMA