Fire and rescue air unit rescues climber on Gunung Tahan

GUA MUSANG: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) air unit managed to rescue a female climber who suffered from shortness of breath at the top of Gunung Tahan, near Merapoh, Pahang, on Wednesday.
     
JBPM Air Base public relations officer Siti Farizun Naim said the unit reached the scene at 6.25pm, after receiving a call at 3.48pm.

"The victim, Zuraini Zoo, 43, was located at an altitude of 2,187 meters above sea level, in a state of semi-consciousness, and was fatigued.

"We took 20 minutes to rescue the victim using the 'stretcher winching' technique. The helicopter that brought the victim arrived at the Gua Musang Fire and Rescue Station at 7.05pm, before the victim was rushed to the Gua Musang Hospital (GMH)," he said when contacted here, today.

Siti Farizun said the unit, which used the AW 139 helicopter from Subang, was piloted by Capt Sidek Abas, assisted by co-pilot Mohd Faridullahamin Mohd Nor and Air Quartermaster Nicholas Nunsang.

"Two experienced firefighters from the Special Air Unit, namely Mohd Apiza and Maulanan Ahmad Suwito Mohd Nor were assigned to conduct the rescue work.

"The task of rescuing the victim at the summit of Gunung Tahan was quite challenging, due to strong winds and the terrain on the mountain which delayed the time it took the team to rescue the victim," he said.

Meanwhile, the victim who is from Kampung Merapoh, Kuala Lipis, Pahang, when met at the emergency room of GMH, said she began climbing the mountain with 24 other participants on Tuesday, and arrived at the summit on Wednesday evening.

"On the first day of the climb, my health was not affected, but I felt dizzy as soon as I reached the summit of Gunung Tahan," she said. — Bernama