Four hikers from Taichung had planned to summit the Dajie and Dashu Trails in Taroko National Park yesterday. Among them, a 58-year-old man surnamed Peng suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness while walking along the Shakadang Trail. Despite immediate CPR efforts by his companions and first responders, he was pronounced dead after being taken to the 805th Military Hospital.
The Hualien County Fire Bureau stated that after receiving the report yesterday afternoon, they dispatched a total of 8 firefighters from the Xinsiu and Hualien branches, 3 volunteer firefighters, 7 officers from the 9th Brigade of the 7th Precinct, 6 officers from the Xincheng Sub-bureau, and 3 personnel from the Taroko National Park Administration to conduct the rescue. Due to the mountainous terrain, rescuers had to hike for about 40 minutes before reaching Mr. Peng. During this time, his companions continuously performed CPR. At 5:40 p.m., they reached the patient, who was located about 50 meters above the Shakadang Trail.
Firefighters took turns in the rescue operation, carrying Mr. Peng down the mountain to the hospital. As the trail features steep stairways, the descent was extremely difficult. More than 20 rescuers worked together to safely carry Mr. Peng down the mountain. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he did not survive. He had no heartbeat or breath upon arrival, and despite emergency treatment by medical staff, he was pronounced dead around 8 p.m.
It is understood that Mr. Peng, who had retired, was passionate about outdoor activities. This time, he had joined friends to challenge the Datong and Dajie Trails. The incident happened suddenly. According to his companions, he suddenly felt unwell before collapsing. Lin Wen-ruei, director of the Hualien County Fire Bureau, urged hikers to always pay attention to their physical condition during hiking activities. If feeling unwell, they should rest immediately and avoid pushing themselves. They should also stay aware of their safety to prevent such tragedies.
(China Times)