Rescued Four Hours After Report... No Injuries
Series of Backcountry Accidents Involving South Koreans in Japan
In Asahidake, Higashikawa, Hokkaido, Japan, a 24-year-old Korean man identified as A became stranded after getting lost while snowboarding. Snow-covered mountains in Hokkaido. Material to assist the article's description. Getty Images
A South Korean man who became stranded after getting lost while snowboarding on Asahidake in Hokkaido, Japan, was rescued about four hours after he reported the incident.
According to local media including Japan's STV News on the 13th, a 24-year-old South Korean man identified as Mr. A became stranded after getting lost while snowboarding on Asahidake in Higashikawacho, Hokkaido, Japan, the previous day.
Mr. A, a part-time worker living in Asahikawa, called the authorities himself at around 6:30 p.m. the previous day, saying, "I got lost while snowboarding."
Recently in Japan, there have been consecutive cases of Koreans getting stranded while enjoying backcountry snowboarding. Snowy mountain scenery in Hokkaido. Material to help explain the article. Getty Images
Responding to the call, a police mountain rescue team launched a search and found and rescued Mr. A at around 10:30 p.m. the same day.
According to the police, Mr. A became stranded while backcountry snowboarding (snowboarding on natural snow in mountainous terrain), and he reportedly did not suffer any significant injuries.
Meanwhile, in Japan there have recently been a series of cases of South Koreans becoming stranded while enjoying backcountry snowboarding.
According to Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, on the 30th of last month seven South Korean men who were snowboarding on Mount Teine in Sapporo became lost and were stranded. Snow-covered mountains in Hokkaido. Image provided to help illustrate the article. Getty Images
According to Nagano Broadcasting, on the 29th of last month a 38-year-old South Korean man became stranded in the mountains near Yamada Ranch in Takayama Village, Nagano Prefecture, after becoming unable to move on his own while snowboarding. A friend who had lost contact with him requested assistance from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, and local police and fire authorities launched a search and rescued the man the following morning.
According to UHB Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, on the 30th of last month seven South Korean men who were snowboarding on Mount Teine in Sapporo became lost and were stranded. After a friend reported that he "could not reach them," local fire authorities deployed a helicopter and other resources and rescued all seven in about four hours.
Local authorities believe that in all of these incidents, the individuals became lost while riding in backcountry areas rather than on officially managed courses.
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