KOTA KINABALU: Rescuers are still struggling to bring the Croatian climber stranded on Mount Kinabalu to safety.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said that according to the Fire and Rescue Department, the 46-year-old man was believed to have used an unmanaged village trail, which made the search and rescue operation more challenging.
"Fortunately, he was found safe, although he sustained several injuries," he said on Thursday (Sept 10) in thanking all those involved in the ongoing rescue effort.
He reminded visitors to use only official routes, engage licensed operators and strictly follow the instructions of mountain guides when scaling Mount Kinabalu or entering any challenging tourist sites.
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Sabah Parks director Datuk Maklarin Lakim said as of 10am Thursday, rescuers were still trying to get the man to safe ground before making arrangements to bring him down to the Timpohon gate and hospital.
From information received on the ground, rescuers used ropes and ladders to reach the man, who had fallen down a steep slope.
Fortunately, a nook broke his fall.
The challenge now is to bring the injured man, who strapped to a stretcher, to safety as the slope is slippery from water streaming consistently down to their position.
Maklarin said Sabah Parks is mulling action against the man who encroached and breached local laws by the unauthorised climbing, pending investigations.
Relevant laws for possible investigation under the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984 (amended 2007 and 2024) include Section 48(1)(p) for entry into areas not developed for public use; Section 48(2) on penalties; Section 56 for compounding of offences; or Section 58D(8) which covers access roads or trails that constitute encroachment and trespass.
