JAKARTA: Search and rescue (SAR) workers finally found Syafiq Ridhan Ali Razan, who went missing while hiking on Mount Slamet on Wednesday (Jan 14). Ali was reported missing on Dec 30 and was found after a 16-day search.
From medical examination at Goeteng Taroenadibrata General Hospital in Purbalingga, Central Java, Ali was presumed dead 15 days before his body was found due to high rates of decomposition.
Signs of fracture on his left thigh indicate falling as a probable immediate cause of death. The joint SAR team found Ali at about 10.49am around Post 9 of the hiking route, on the slope base of the southern side of Mount Slamet, heading to the descending route toward Mount Malang basecamp in Purbalingga.
Semarang SAR Office chief, Budiono, said on Thursday that Ali was not found on the ascending route which he took with his friend Himawan Haidar Bahran.
Due to bad weather and thick fog in the area, the evacuation could not be done immediately after Ali was found. Evacuation could only be carried out Thursday morning at about 7am.
Ali’s body was evacuated from a 20-meter ravine and arrived at the Mount Malang basecamp at about 2.30pm.
“The body was still intact when found so it was easy for identification,” Budiman said.
“Goeteng Taroenadibrata General Hospital will announce the cause of death.” Ali and Himawan started the hike from Dipajaya basecamp in neighbouring Pemalang regency on Dec 27.
In addition to regencies of Pemalang and Purbalingga, Mount Slamet is also shared by the regencies of Banyumas, Brebes and Tegal. They were still together on Dec 28, and they took a break at Post 5 because Himawan suffered from a cramp so he could not continue the trip.
Ali then decided to descend earlier to look for help and asked Himawan to wait at Post 5. After they parted on Dec 29, however, Ali did not return and Himawan waited until nighttime while contact with Ali was lost.
Himawan finally decided to ascend to Post 9 of Mount Slamet, which lies at 3,183m above sea level. From Post 9, the distance toward Mount Slamat’s summit is some 300 to 600m.
Himawan stayed in Post 9 until Dec 30 morning before a team of volunteers found him and brought him through Dipajaya base camp safely.
Meanwhile, the search for Ali continued until his body was found not far from where Himawan held out.
Purbalingga Police deputy chief Comr. Agus Amjat Purnomo said that the police was ready to escort the return of Ali’s body to his family in Magelang, Central Java. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
