A 56-year-old woman surnamed Liu recently climbed Mount Wuming. On the 13th, while passing near the triangulation station of Yuanduozhi Mountain, she accidentally twisted and fractured her right ankle, leaving her unable to walk. The Taichung City Fire Bureau applied for a helicopter hoist rescue on the 16th to airlift the woman down the mountain and send her to the hospital for treatment.
The Taichung City Fire Bureau stated that Liu and a hiking group of eight friends had planned to climb Mount Wuming. They applied for a four-day hiking trip, with the 13th being the final day. Near the triangulation station of Yuanduozhi Mountain, Liu injured her right ankle and could not walk. The team leader stayed with her at the site awaiting rescue, while the other members descended the mountain first.
The Taichung City Fire Bureau received the report and dispatched search and rescue personnel on the 14th to carry out the rescue mission. However, the helicopter could not take off for the hoist rescue due to thunderstorms and hail along the flight path.
Rescue personnel made contact with Liu at 3 p.m. on the 14th. Liu was conscious, with her right ankle swollen from the sprain. Due to rainy and slippery conditions, as well as narrow and steep sections of the trail that made manual carrying dangerous and risked causing secondary injuries to the patient, a helicopter hoist rescue remained the priority option.
On the 15th, the helicopter conducted two missions but had to return to base both times due to poor weather conditions. Rescue personnel from the Lishan Branch set up camp near Liu’s campsite at the triangulation station of Yuanduozhi Mountain.
At 10:52 a.m. today, the helicopter arrived over Yuanduozhi Mountain to perform the hoist rescue operation, which was successfully completed. Upon arriving at Dongshi Riverside Park, Liu was transported by ambulance to Dongshi Farmers’ Hospital for medical treatment. Dongshi Farmers’ Hospital stated that Liu had suffered a right ankle fracture, and doctors assessed that it would be difficult for her to descend the mountain on her own. 1050416
(CNA)