Four people trapped in a scenic lake burned clothes to keep warm, police and civilians rescue them in 7 hours.
At 3:30 a.m. yesterday, four young men and women who had been trapped for over eight hours finally descended from the mountaintop of Lüchun Lake Scenic Area and escaped danger. The previous evening, they had gotten lost while hiking and were stranded at the well-known Lüchun Lake Scenic Area in Dazhou Town, Qujiang District.
Lüchun Lake, at an altitude of over 1,390 meters, still had snow and ice covering many areas. Cold and hungry, they even took off the clothes of two of the young men to use as fuel for a fire to keep warm.
Alarm received at 8 p.m.
At 8 p.m. on February 22, the 110 Command Center received a call for help from the four young men and women, saying they were lost around Lüchun Lake and stranded on the mountaintop.
Ten firefighters from the Development Zone Brigade of the Quzhou City Fire Rescue Detachment, led by Squadron Commander Ma Binbing, arrived at the foot of the mountain at 8:40 p.m. carrying rescue ropes, stretcher litters, high-powered flashlights, medical first aid kits, and other rescue equipment. They met with police officers from Dazhou Police Station of Qujiang Public Security Bureau to discuss the rescue plan.
As the four did not know their exact location, rescuers split into two teams and advanced toward the mountaintop of Lüchun Lake under the guidance of local guides.
The local mountainous area features steep roads and complex terrain, with many paths located near cliffs—narrow, slippery, and still covered with snow and ice in many places. The temperature on the mountain was about minus 5 degrees Celsius. While advancing, rescuers shook flashlights and glow sticks, continuously calling out the names of the four hikers.
Midnight: Four citizens found
At midnight, one group of rescuers at the mountaintop of Lüchun Lake heard shouting. The four young men and women were huddled in a mountain hollow, shivering from the cold. Fortunately, their emotions were relatively stable and their mental states were good, except for one girl who had twisted her ankle.
At the scene, rescuers found two pieces of clothing that had not been completely burned. The trapped person Xiao Zheng said that during the wait for rescue, the four were cold, hungry, and very scared. He and another man took off their own clothes to start a fire for warmth.
More than 30 rescuers crossed 11 mountain peaks and trekked on foot for over 40 kilometers. At 3:30 a.m., after more than seven hours of searching, the four trapped individuals descended the mountain. Xiao Ye, one of the trapped individuals, told reporters that they had started hiking up the mountain at around 3 p.m. on February 22. They had thought it would take only two or three hours to walk down, but there was still a lot of snow on the mountain, making progress difficult. They also took a wrong turn while descending, going further and further off track. Cold and hungry, they had no choice but to call for help.
Reminder: Find a guide and keep communication open
Li Peiyu, a local hunter who led the rescuers up the mountain in search, said that as spring approaches, Lüchun Lake will welcome many more visitors. He hopes that first-time visitors will go up the mountain with the help of a local guide to avoid getting lost or having accidents.
Firefighters also reminded that hiking activities should have reasonable time arrangements, preferably ending before dark, and hikers should bring enough gear and food. In case of danger, remember the route taken, clearly state your location, and it’s best to carry a positioning device and ensure at least one mobile phone has power.