A retired soldier surnamed Hsieh from the special forces went hiking on the southern peak of Ganhsu Mountain and went missing. His worried family reported the case, and the Air Rescue Squadron dispatched a helicopter today to rescue him and bring him back safely.
The Taichung City Fire Bureau stated that the 58-year-old Hsieh, who lives in Taipei, is a retired army soldier who often hikes alone. He was supposed to come down from the mountain on the 21st but went missing. Hsieh’s daughter called the Taroko National Park Headquarters to request a rescue. She said she had spoken to her father on the 21st, but there had been no contact since then.
After receiving the report, the fire bureau immediately launched a ground search mission and also applied to the National Search and Rescue Command Center for helicopter assistance. This is the second time Hsieh has gone missing during a hike and needed to be rescued.
When the helicopter was deployed for the search in the morning, Hsieh was found at the Erwu Creek campsite on the southern peak of Ganhsu Mountain. He was unharmed but had stayed on the mountain due to rising river water. Initially, he refused to come down and only asked the rescuers to retrieve his gear first. After being persuaded, he finally agreed to descend together with them.
As Hsieh did not require medical attention, and due to a lack of cash after descending, the deputy chief of the Taichung City Fire Bureau’s Second Battalion, Chan Jen-chieh, even paid out of his own pocket to help him return home, and advised him not to worry his family again. 1020926
(CNA)