New Kinabalu route too slippery for some
Published on: Friday, June 02, 2017
Ranau: The prospect of the new route to the top of Mount Kinabalu being too slippery for some is becoming apparent with the 61st climber to slip and fall, Wednesday, since a more challenging route was reopened in December 2015 following the earthquake earlier that year.Daily Express learnt that besides the slippery factor, some of the cases were also attributed to mountain sickness and breathing difficulties.Hong Kong tourist Lai Yuen Yee, 30, was descending from the peak at Kilometer 6.7 when she slipped and fell at about 9.30am in the latest incident.ADVERTISEMENT District Fire and Rescue Department chief, Jimmy Lagung told reporters that the victim was found writhing in pain by a mountain guide who happened to pass by the area."She climbed down alone after getting separated from her group. Probably she was feeling too excited about scaling Kinabalu for the first time when she stepped on a slick surface of the rocks and slipped."As a result, the victim suffered injuries to her left leg. A mountain guide who found her contacted the team Auxiliary Fire Officer (UN) Search and Rescue Mountain (Mosar) via walkie talkie."Our units located approximately 500 meters from the scene rushed over and found the victim in pain. ADVERTISEMENT Efforts were focused on calming the victim and giving early treatment on her sprained left foot," he said. After the initial treatment was given, Lagung said the victim was still not able to proceed on her own, which made the Mosar personnel decide to allow her to ride piggy back.
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"The victim arrived at Laban Rata at 10.10am and took a short rest before continuing the journey down to Timpohon Gate, where an EMRS vehicle was waiting to take her to the Ranau Hospital for further treatment," he said. For the record,there were 47 instances last year of climbers falling and hurting themselves and 14 cases this year. - Clarence G Dol