Five Friends Who Lost Their Way In Bukit Tabur Rescued

December 19, 2009 23:19 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Five friends, including three women, who lost their way for almost five hours while trekking in Bukit Tabur, Taman Melawati here were found safe on Saturday evening.

Chai Choon Yan, 25, Phua Shir Leng, 25, Chan Pooy Yee, 25, Yap Kian Fatt, 24 and Yap Aik Keong, 24, were found by a rescue team at about 6pm.

Civil Defence Department operating officer Second Lieutenant Sharul Kamar Mohd Johari said the victims who started trekking in the jungle via the Klang Gate Dam at 9am, lost their way due to thick fog and heavy rain.

"They entered the jungle without notifying the nearest police station. We only knew that they were lost after receiving a distress call at 2.40pm," he told reporters here.

He said, Aik Keong was found with a cramp, while the others only suffered from fatigue.

The search was mounted by a 30-member team including the department's personnel, police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

-- BERNAMA

BUKIT TABUR - TIPS

Saturday October 10, 2009 – The Star

Going up Tabur

Here are some safety tips for first-time hikers:

>Always go with someone who knows the trail well, and never hike alone. Visitors' movements are not monitored in Tabur, unlike in state or national parks. In the doctors' case, their badly decomposed bodies were only found three days later, when one of their cars was spotted near the trailhead.

>If you're scared of heights, you should give Tabur a miss. A friend of mine with acrophobia was scared stiff during our hike in Tabur. It spoilt her outing.

>Start out early. Not only could you catch an amazing sunrise, you can avoid the scorching sun due to lack of shade on the exposed ridge.

>Dehydration or fatigue causes disorientation. It's easy to stumble or lose your footing when you're groggy. Keep yourself hydrated and get in shape. Tabur is not the place to build your stamina due to its rugged terrain. Use flat, easy trails or the gym instead.

>Bring some energy bars or snacks. You never know how long you may end up on the trail, especially if someone in your group is unfit or gets hurt.

>Bring along your mobile phone. In the past, lost hikers have managed to call the police from their mobile phones.

>Avoid hiking after nightfall. You might step into a "bottomless" pit or get hopelessly stranded. In 2003, 13 hikers out of a group of 20 went missing while trying to get down the hill at dusk. They were rescued eight hours later.

>Missing hikers are not uncommon in Tabur. Try not to stray off the path unless you're GPS-equipped or highly experienced.

>It's prudent to register your name at the Melawati Police Station — Tel: (03) 4108 1222 — before your hike. It'll help speed up rescue operations or evacuation should the need arise.

Tip:
In the websites of outdoor gear retailers like Corezone and Lafuma, you will find groups advertising hikes to Bukit Tabur.

BUSHES CUSHION ELDERLY HIKER'S FALL

Tue, Sep 22, 2009
The Star
Asia News Network

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A 51-year-old man who went hiking at Bukit Tabur, Ampang, slipped and fell 30m but was saved when he landed on some bushes yesterday.
The hiker, who only wanted to be known as Lim, was stuck there for more than six hours before the authorities rescued him at 6.30pm.

Ampang Jaya Deputy OCPD Supt Amiruddin Jamiluddin said the man, who was from Tanjung Sempat, started hiking in the morning but he was unfamiliar with the terrain.

"He realised he was lost at about 12.30pm," he said, adding that the victim slipped while trying to find his way out. Lim called his family for help on his mobile phone at 3.30pm.

Supt Amiruddin said it took about three hours to locate the hiker. "He suffered light injuries and was sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment," he said.

-The Star /Asia News Network