A five-member hiking team stranded during Typhoon Krathon in the Nengkuan Antungjun Mountain area had one member develop altitude sickness yesterday while descending the Nengkuan Traverse Trail and was airlifted to hospital today by helicopter.
A group of five hikers climbing Nengkuan Antungjun Mountain were active in the Nengkuan Antungjun and Nengkuan South Peak areas on August 29 when Typhoon Krathon warnings were issued. Due to the long distance, they couldn’t descend in time, so police advised the group to seek shelter nearby.
After the typhoon moved away, the four men and one woman began descending along the Nengkuan Traverse Trail. Yesterday afternoon, near the 15K "Guangbei Biao" monument, a male team member surnamed Lin, around 30 years old, briefly lost contact. When found by forestry patrol officers, he appeared to be suffering from altitude sickness and was unable to walk. His teammates escorted him to Tianchi Mountain Lodge near the 13K mark to await rescue.
The Nantou County Fire Bureau said that due to landslides along a major cliff section, ground rescue was hindered. This morning, they requested assistance from the Air Rescue Squadron, which dispatched a helicopter from its Tainan base. Around 8:00 AM, all five individuals were airlifted, and the helicopter landed at the Zhushan Training Center of the National Fire Agency at 8:43 AM. The patient was then transferred to Zhushan Show Chwan Hospital for treatment.
The fire bureau stated that the male team member surnamed Lin had minor abrasions, exhibited symptoms of hypothermia and pulmonary edema, but was conscious and not in critical condition. 1020903
(CNA)