Missing US Tourist In Tioman Found Through Phone Location Sharing

KUANTAN, June 7 (Bernama) -- An American tourist who was reported missing while hiking on Pulau Tioman was found safe last night after he shared his real-time location via mobile phone with rescue teams.

Rompin district police chief Supt Sharif Shai Sharif Mondoi said police received information about the missing man at about 5.30 pm yesterday after he failed to return to his resort accommodation following an activity along the old Kampung Tekek-Kampung Juara trail.

“The victim was found at 8.33 pm in the Bukit Parang forest area, Kampung Tekek, in a safe condition and without any injuries. He was taken out of the forest area for further checks,” he said in a statement today, without naming the victim.

He said the trail has many junctions and side paths and is no longer used as a main route by locals. 

“At present, the trail is often used by tourists as a hiking and recreational route. Investigations found that the victim got lost after taking the wrong branch of the path, which caused him to be unable to exit the hilly forest area,” he said.

Sharif Shai said the search operation was carried out by the Tioman police station with assistance from the Wildlife and National Parks Department team on Pulau Tioman.

He advised tourists engaging in hiking or recreational activities in forested areas to make adequate preparations, inform relevant parties of their movements, and ensure communication devices are in good working order to avoid untoward incidents.

-- BERNAMA