70s Male Isolated on Snow-Covered Geomangsan in Hamyang Rescued After About 3 Hours

Firefighters are rescuing hikers stranded on a snow-covered mountain and are coming down the mountain. Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters

A man in his 70s who was isolated alone near the summit after climbing a snow-covered mountain was rescued after about three hours.

According to the Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters on the 10th, a report was received on the 9th at around 5:50 p.m. that a man in his 70s, Mr. A, was lost alone near the summit of Geomangsan Mountain in Seoham-myeon, Hamyang-gun.

At that time, about 1.1 meters of snow had accumulated around Geomangsan Mountain, making the hiking trails invisible.

Mr. A, who had climbed the mountain with members of a mountaineering club, lost his way in snow piled up to his waist while descending alone after his group had gone down first.

The fire authorities searching for Mr. A used location information (GPS) and terrain photos to find him at around 9:04 p.m. that day.

Mr. A was weak but in good health, and he descended the mountain with the help of firefighters and returned home.

A fire official said, “Snow does not melt easily on the mountain, and the paths are steeper than on flat land, making it dangerous,” adding, “We hope people avoid mountain climbing in winter as much as possible, and if they must go, we urge them to strictly follow safety precautions for their protection.”