A tourist who decided to climb Mount Rinjani without a guide was found by a search team on one of the slopes. Due to multiple fractures, the man was unable to move on his own. In addition, rescuers had to provide first aid to stop the bleeding from his head. He spent 24 hours on the mountain.
“The victim sustained serious injuries during the fall. He has head trauma on the right side, a fractured tailbone, and multiple bruises and fractures on the right side of his body,” said Sembalun Police Chief Wahyu Indrawan.
The Russian traveler chose alternative paths to avoid the security post during the climb. At some point, he lost his way, slipped, and fell from a 200-meter cliff. According to Wahyu, after the fall, the foreigner contacted a friend through Instagram, sending his location and asking for help.
Upon receiving the message, the friend contacted rescuers. An evacuation team, consisting of officers from the National Park, medical personnel, and joint forces, was sent to the scene late at night, and by morning, they managed to find the foreigner and transport him to the nearest hospital.
“Due to the difficult terrain, the evacuation process took more than five hours,” said Lombok Island Search and Rescue Chief Yarman.
“Several recent incidents remind us that climbing rules are in place not only to protect the environment but also to ensure the safety of the climbers themselves,” Yarman said. He added that ignoring the rules not only endangers the climber but also puts the rescuers at risk, who have to work in life-threatening conditions during evacuations.
Recently, there has been a series of incidents while climbing Indonesian peaks. The most notable case was the disappearance of a Russian tourist on the same Mount Rinjani. Her search lasted several weeks, including the use of drones, but the woman was never found.
At this point, the search operation has been suspended. Russian-speaking volunteers from Bali, who were the first to start combing the trails to the volcano’s summit, have also stopped their search. The chances of finding the woman alive are nearly gone.
A Russian fitness trainer was more fortunate. He fell into a 300-meter ravine during a hike in Trunyan and lay there for two days — he was found and taken to the hospital in time. However, a French family that decided to admire the beauty of Batukaru without a guide faced tragedy. The fate of 15-year-old Stein, a member of this hike, is still unknown, and the search for the underage foreigner has been called off.
Bali.Live urges everyone to take hiking on the island very seriously, even if it is described as “beginner-level” on social media. Don’t skimp on guides or try to bypass standard routes to avoid security. Instead, make sure that as many locals as possible know about your climb. If the route recommends taking a guide, make sure to do so — it could save your life.
Sources: detik.com, kompas.com
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