Report (By Reporter Pan Yong) Xiao Chen, just 27 years old this year, was from Huazhou, Guangdong. After graduating with a master's degree from Harbin Institute of Technology, he officially joined Huawei on February 25 of this year. This not only made fellow villagers envious but also brought pride to his family. However, unexpectedly, Xiao Chen died during a mountain hike during the Qingming holiday, turning what should have been a joyous occasion into a tragedy.

　　On April 3, the second day of the Qingming holiday, a group of 15 hikers, including Xiao Chen, spontaneously organized a trek starting from Dameisha, crossing Mount Ma'anshan, and then gathering in Jingu Village, Pingshan New District. The entire journey covered more than 30 kilometers. The 15 hikers were all in high spirits along the way, and no dangerous incidents occurred. Even when they had gathered in Jingu Village by evening and took attendance, Xiao Chen was not found. At that time, the hikers assumed he had left on his own. So, no one paid much attention, and the group went their separate ways. However, it wasn’t until the next day when colleagues noticed Xiao Chen hadn’t returned to work that they realized something was wrong. By then, more than 50 hours had passed since the hikers had separated in Jingu Village, and the situation had become very critical.

　　On the same day, the hiking organizer immediately called the police. At 5:30 p.m. on April 5, the Shijing Police Station of Pingshan Public Security Sub-bureau promptly organized officers to begin a mountain search and rescue mission. In the early hours of April 6, just after 1 a.m., the hiking organizer also led other hikers familiar with the route to the Shijing Police Station. After joining forces with the police, they formed the second search and rescue team to enter the mountain. However, even by 7 a.m. on April 6, Xiao Chen’s whereabouts were still unknown.

　　As time passed and with the arrival of thunderstorms, the situation became increasingly grim. At 7:30 a.m. on April 6, the Shenzhen Mountain Rescue Team also organized over 20 volunteers to go to the incident site to assist the police in searching for Xiao Chen.

　　At 10:09 a.m. that day, the third search and rescue team, consisting of police officers and rescuers, also entered the mountain. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, at 10:29 a.m., Xiao Chen was finally found in the third reservoir area of Honghua Ridge Reservoir. However, by that time, Xiao Chen was pale, completely drenched from the rain, and showed no signs of life. Forensic officials confirmed on-site that there was no evidence of homicide, and it was preliminarily suspected that he had suffered a medical emergency during the hike.

　　During every holiday, large groups of hikers in Shenzhen organize outdoor mountain climbing activities, and reports of hikers getting lost or trapped are frequently seen in the news, including tragic cases where hikers lose their lives. During this year’s Qingming Festival holiday, four tourists were climbing Wutong Mountain. When they reached the top of a waterfall in Taishan Gully, an 18-year-old boy accidentally stepped and fell off the cliff into the water, hitting his head and unfortunately dying on the spot. Xiao Chen is the second hiker to have died. These repeated tragedies serve as yet another warning to outdoor enthusiasts. Shi Xin, captain of the Shenzhen Mountain Rescue Team, advised that outdoor hiking should be done within one’s limits. With temperatures in Shenzhen gradually rising, the combination of high heat and humidity places greater physical demands on hikers. Under such conditions, hiking can often trigger dormant health issues, leading to unpredictable consequences.

　　Author: Pan Yong Source: Shenzhen Business Daily)