Singaporean climber falls and dies during Mt Kinabalu climb
A Singaporean climber who fell during a training climb on Mount Kinabalu on Saturday (Oct 1) has died of his injuries.
Woon Tai Kiang had gone missing while training for the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.
Ranau police chief Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah told The New Paper (TNP) that doctors at Ranau hospital has declared him dead.
He was found in a 150m-deep ravine near Sayat-Sayat – the last checkpoint before climbers make their way up to the summit.
The Star newspaper reported that he had died of his injuries.
District Fire and Rescue Department chief Jimmy Lagung said the department mobilised Mountain Search and Rescue (Mosar) immediately after receiving a distress call from Sabah Parks at 6am on Sunday (Oct 2).
Chief Lagung told New Straits Times: “We were informed that the victim had climbed the mountain via Timpohan Gate but failed to return. A search operation was conducted yesterday to no avail.
“Today, the search and rescue operation resumed with the help of Sabah Parks staff and mountain rangers,” he said.
The discovery was made by Mosar personnel at about 7.30am on Sunday, reported The Star Online.
Chief Lagung told TNP that the victim "was found by the team in an unconscious state" and had been brought down from the mountain at about 2pm.
"The search and rescue operation has ended and the victim has been sent to Ranau hospital," he said.
Park ranger Mr Daikin Anam was present during the rescue operation. He told TNP that the man was found near the Kota Belud trail.
However, his account differs from Chief Lagung's.
'When we found him in the ravine, he was already dead," said Mr Daikin.
"He must have fallen and slipped down the ravine."
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