51-year-old hiker falls off cliff into crevice and dies despite rescue efforts

 

At around 1:25 p.m. on February 11, an accident occurred at the Giant Peak of Mount Lao, where a 51-year-old hiker named Zhao fell down a 3-meter-high cliff and landed in a crevice below during his descent from the mountain, sustaining multiple injuries. His companion, Ms. Yang, called 110 to report the incident. Police from the Mount Lao Public Security Sub-bureau, along with firefighters from 119 and paramedics from 120, quickly arrived at the scene to conduct the rescue. By 2:15 p.m. that afternoon, the rescuers had evacuated the injured hiker down the mountain and taken him to the hospital for treatment. Reporters learned that by around 6 p.m. that evening, the hiker had passed away due to the severity of his injuries, despite undergoing emergency treatment.

At around 1:25 p.m. on February 11, the 110 Command Center of the Mount Lao Public Security Sub-bureau received a call from a citizen, Ms. Yang, reporting that a hiker had fallen into a stone crevice at the Giant Peak Scenic Area of Mount Lao, sustaining multiple injuries and urgently requiring rescue.

Based on Ms. Yang’s description, police determined that the location where the hiker was in danger was likely on the downhill path near Brick Pagoda Ridge in the Giant Peak Scenic Area. The Command Center immediately dispatched officers from Liuching Police Station and Shazikou Border Police Station to the scene. Upon arrival, reporters saw a man wearing a red hiking suit lying on a stretcher, bleeding from his face and hands, groaning continuously. Rescuers were assessing the terrain to determine a rescue plan.

According to Ms. Yang, who was hiking with the injured man, the hiker surnamed Zhao was 51 years old. That day, a group of more than 10 people had gone hiking at the Giant Peak of Mount Lao, but the two of them were late and could not join the main group, so they decided to hike together.

Around noon that day, the two were descending and had reached the area near Brick Pagoda Ridge when they saw they were not far from the base of the mountain. They stopped on a large boulder on the hillside, planning to have lunch before continuing their descent. After lunch, Zhao said he needed to urinate, so Ms. Yang walked ahead down the mountain for a while. When she did not see Zhao catch up, she turned back to call for him and discovered he was nowhere to be found.

Ms. Yang returned to search and when she climbed onto the large boulder, she suddenly heard groaning sounds coming from below. She looked down and spotted Zhao lying in a stone crevice under the boulder, his face covered in blood. Shocked, she immediately called for help. A police officer at the rescue site told reporters that the man had fallen over 3 meters down a cliff and landed in a stone crevice about half a meter deep, with his body positioned toward the outer edge of the crevice.

Mr. Sun, a hiker who happened to pass by and participated in the rescue, described the situation to reporters. “We were descending when we suddenly heard a woman shouting for help from the valley,” Sun said. The four of them quickly began searching after hearing the cry. “When we found the trapped hiker, he was wedged inside a stone crevice, lying on his left side against the ground, his right hand grasping a tree nearby, and he was groaning non-stop.”

Sun said his companion, Mr. Xiao, briefly assessed the hiker’s injuries and then gently held him. Xiao also slowly leaned the hiker’s body against his own to alleviate the pain.

Officer Fan Guo’an from Liuching Police Station said they initially tried to crawl under the large boulder to rescue Zhao, but after several attempts, they were unsuccessful. Later, additional police from Shazikou Border Police Station and 120 paramedics arrived as reinforcements. Officers placed the stretcher at the bottom of the boulder, lifted Zhao onto it, and slowly moved him to a safe area. Medical personnel administered basic treatment to stop the bleeding, and after securing Zhao on the stretcher, they began moving him downhill. Fifteen minutes later, rescuers safely brought Zhao down the mountain and transferred him to a 120 ambulance.

Paramedics quickly provided oxygen and further disinfected his wounds. The ambulance then transported the injured hiker to the Eastern Campus of Qingdao Municipal Hospital Affiliated with Qingdao University. By around 6 p.m., reporters learned that the hiker had died despite undergoing emergency treatment due to the severity of his injuries.

A police officer told reporters that in recent weeks, temperatures in the city had been dropping but had begun to rise again in the past couple of days, leading to a noticeable increase in the number of citizens hiking on Mount Lao. “Mount Lao has steep terrain, so safety must be a top priority while hiking to avoid accidents,” the officer warned, adding that safety should always come first, especially for elderly individuals who should be even more vigilant.

According to the officer, there have been two recent incidents involving elderly hikers getting into trouble. The public and tourists who enjoy hiking and outdoor activities are urged to stick to established scenic areas, carry sufficient medication and food, and remain calm in case of danger. In an emergency, stay composed—call for help while also trying to rescue yourself to minimize risks.

Additionally, Mount Lao features rugged terrain, and many unofficial paths are difficult to navigate, with the potential for accidents if one is not careful. Therefore, hikers should choose well-known routes and avoid venturing onto undeveloped paths. It's also important to pay attention to the surrounding terrain and consider detouring around particularly dangerous sections to prevent accidents.