The Perils of Trekking

This must be the fourth accidents that I come to know in less than a year – all happen at Bukit Tabur (or Klang Gate Ridge) in Melawati. While the other three were nasty falls, the latest accident is the most tragic one as it involves death of two doctors.

In one of the previous falls, a lady trekker fell more than 50 m high and suffered multiple fractures in bones. The good news was that, I was told by another trekker that all the victims have recovered from the fall.

Climbing Klang Gate Ridge requires a lot of concentration plus good fitness level. Both the left and right ridges have dangerous cliffs and a fall could result in fatal accident. A rock-based hill (as in Bukit Tabur) is steep and the ravine is deep compared to earth-based hill (eg. Gunung Nuang, Gunung Apek, Pine Tree Trail, etc) which rises gradually with wider trail. When I first climbed Klang Gate Ridge, I was worried too manoeuvring around rocks just next to the cliff... click here to read.

On a different note: Six weeks ago, one of a Malay office colleagues was missing when trekking in Yong Yap jungle (Pahang). He is about 30 years old working in HR department. Until todate, there is still no news of him.

Uncertainty and danger are inherent parts of all outdoor sports. We should not stop because of the risk. With proper knowledge, precaution and fitness level, we can mitigate and avoid all these negative elements and continue to enjoy in these great outdoor activities.

click here to read more reports from Agnes Tan's blogsite. She has been very active in trekking.
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A trekker is manoeuvring a tricky cliff (left side of Klang Gate Ridge)

Extracted below are Star and NST Online dated Sunday 29 March 2009.

Star Newspaper
Sunday 29 March 2009

Missing Doctors Found Dead

KUALA LUMPUR: Two specialist doctors, missing since Wednesday, were found dead in a ravine near the Klang Gates in Ulu Ampang yesterday.

A search-and-rescue team took over an hour to airlift the bodies from the thickly forested terrain.

Police believe the two – paediatrician Dr Haliza Mohd Shafie, 53, and paediatric surgeon Dr Amin Tai Abdullah @ Tai Yen Ming, 57 – slipped and fell about 200m after they had gone hiking.

Their car was found at the popular hikers’ spot in Bukit Melawati at 7am. Jungle trekking gear and the duo’s cellular phones were found in the car.

A full-scale search-and-rescue operation was launched by the police, Fire and Rescue, and Public Works Departments, after Dr Haliza’s husband confirmed the car belonged to her.

Tracker dogs and a helicopter search spotted the two at around 2.15pm, said Ampang Deputy OCPD Supt Amiruddin Jamaluddin.

“The injuries on the bodies were consistent with a fall,” he said.

The decomposing bodies were sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem.

Both specialists were attached with a medical centre in Ampang.

Their families made a police report when they did not return home on Wednesday night, State Chief Police Officer Deputy Commissioner Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday.

It was earlier reported that a security guard at the nearby dam saw two people heading into the jungle on Wednesday but did not see them return.

click here for article in Star newspaper.

This is another dangerous part just before reaching the peak of of Bukit Tabur (right ridge). Notice a trekker in yellow up there.
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NST

Dated: 2009/03/29

Two Missing Doctors Found Dead in Ravine

By : By Lee Shi-Ian and Mazlinda Mahmood

KUALA LUMPUR: The bodies of two doctors missing since Wednesday were found yesterday in a ravine near the Klang Gates in Ulu Ampang.

Dr Haliza Mohd Shafiee, 53, and Dr Amin Tai Abdullah @ Tai Yen Ming, 57, were believed to have slipped and fallen into the ravine while jungle trekking at a popular spot in Bukit Tabur near Taman Melawati, Ampang.... (partial texts only). click here for article published in NST.
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Posted by KC

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