A hiker has been found alive after 14 days lost in mountains in southwest Malaysia, and says she survived despite having no food and only drinking water she found collected in pitcher plants.
Jaslinda Saludin, 49, was among 14 hikers and two mountain guides taking part in a trek to Gunung Batu Putih, near Tapah, beginning on 23 May. She became separated from the group the following day, and was not found until Saturday 6 June.
Recounting her struggle to stay alive, she said: "I had no food, I didn't eat for two weeks. I drank water… dark water, brown water, water from pitcher plants. So let's all be grateful to be alive.”
The hiker is believed to have also stopped to rest because of pain in her legs and carried on alone towards the mountain peak, with the guide stating that the last time he saw her was at about 7.30am on 24 May.
While the Perak Fire and Rescue Department received a call at around 11.32am about two injured hikers at Gunung Batu Putih, their guide assumed Ms Saludin had made her way towards the peak, reported the Malay Mail.
It was not until the 25 May when she had not been seen for 24 hours that the search and rescue operation was launched.
The hiker was found a fortnight later at Orang Asli village near Kampung Lubuk Gaharu at Pos Musoh at about 5pm, and was taken to hospital for treatment, reported The Star.
Perak Forestry Mountain Guide coordinator Muzafar Mohamad, 50, said Ms Saludin was eventually found within a search area that had already been combed more than once by rescuers.
“It was an area that our teams had traversed from both the upper and lower sections,” he said.
“The terrain is extremely challenging, filled with valleys, waterfalls and difficult ground. Even for experienced mountain guides, reaching certain sections is not easy,” he said.
Apologising for her prolonged disappearance, Ms Saludin said: “I am sorry for causing trouble to Malaysians.
“Thank you to everyone involved, especially the police, Fire and Rescue Department personnel, NGOs, the Orang Asli (Indigenous people) and all those who participated in the search operation,” said her husband, Haszman Othman, 61.
