Three-hour trek in, 15 hours out: Firefighters carry injured Fraser’s Hill hiker to safety

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — A woman injured during a hike to Twin Peak in Fraser’s Hill was rescued after firefighters carried her through rugged jungle terrain in an operation that stretched for 15 hours.

According to New Straits Times, the 43-year-old suffered a suspected fracture to her right leg while trekking between Hobbit Cave and the Pine Tree Hill trail en route to Twin Peak, which rises 1,505 metres above sea level.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Salahuddin Isa said a distress call was received at 12.15pm yesterday, prompting the deployment of six firefighters from the Raub station and a mountain guide.

The rescue team travelled about 46km to the trailhead before beginning a three-hour trek covering roughly 2.7km to reach the stranded hiker.

“Upon reaching the victim, rescuers immobilised her injured leg before carrying her downhill on a stretcher. At several steep sections of the trail, a firefighter carried her on his back,” Salahuddin was quoted as saying.

He said the return journey proved especially demanding because of the difficult terrain, which included steep slopes and fallen trees.

The rescue effort continued after dark, with firefighters relying solely on torchlights to navigate the forest trails.

The woman and her rescuers eventually arrived at the foothill at about 7am today. She was later taken by ambulance to Raub Hospital for treatment.

Initial investigations found that the victim had been part of a hiking group comprising 21 participants accompanied by three mountain guides.

The remaining members of the group returned safely from the mountain, Salahuddin said.