53-year-old hiker suspected of heatstroke on Qilai East Ridge, airlifted by Black Hawk helicopter to Hualien for treatment

Hualien, June 21 (CNA) A 53-year-old man, identified by his surname Li, from a five-person hiking team on the Qilai East Ridge, was suspected of suffering from heatstroke and became weak. The Hualien County Fire Department expedited the rescue by applying for assistance from a helicopter. Today, he was successfully airlifted from a steep slope on the Liji Mountain ridge and transported to a hospital in Hualien for treatment.

The Hualien County Fire Department stated that at around 6 a.m. today, they received a report from the Nantou County Fire Department about a five-person hiking team applying to climb the Qilai East Ridge. The team entered the mountain from the Qilai trailhead on June 18. Among them, Mr. Li was suspected of heatstroke, had been unable to eat for two days, was weak, and his condition was worsening daily, requiring rescue personnel assistance.

The fire department immediately dispatched the local brigade to prepare for rescue. Considering the long distance, which would take two days to reach the patient, potentially endangering his life, they immediately reported to the National Fire Agency to apply for an aircraft to support the airlift.

A Black Hawk helicopter from the Aviation Police Bureau took off at around 8 a.m. and headed to the accident site, the Guanghan Palace mountain hut on Liji Mountain in Xiulin Township. Due to the rescue location being on a steep ridge, a special rescue member was deployed with a hoist ring to assist in the airlift. The patient was successfully hoisted and flown back to Dehsing Sports Field in Hualien, where an ambulance rushed him to the hospital for treatment.

The Hualien County Fire Department stated that hiking activities are full of uncertain risks. People should consider their physical strength and choose appropriate clothing based on the weather before hiking. Even for a light day hike, they should prepare equipment for an emergency overnight stay (such as a survival blanket, fire-starting equipment, rain gear, a warm jacket, and emergency food), a headlamp, a survival whistle, and formulate a hiking plan with backup options, as well as communication equipment with GPS positioning capabilities.

The Hualien County Fire Department added that the hiking route in this case was within a communicable area. After the hiker and the Hualien County Fire Department established communication, and based on the fire department's emergency shelter guidelines and the provided coordinates of the airlift area, the rescue mission was successfully completed. (Edited by Huang Ming-hsi) 1150621

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