Five stranded tourists rescued from Khao Iko in Phetchaburi
Five stranded tourists were rescued from Khao Iko in Phetchaburi following a late-night operation after one member of the group became unwell on the mountain.
Emergency teams from the Sawang Sanphet Thammasathan Foundation were alerted to the incident on the night of 18 April, after reports that five tourists were stuck on the summit of Khao Iko, which rises more than 900 metres above ground level in Nong Chumphon subdistrict, Khao Yoi district.
Rescue workers mobilised quickly, bringing lighting equipment, high-angle rescue gear and volunteers to the scene. The route to the summit was described as steep, rocky and completely dark, requiring officers to use a generator to power spotlights as they made their way up the mountain.
Challenging night-time rescue operation
Upon reaching the group, rescuers found that a 21-year-old man from Rai Som subdistrict in Mueang Phetchaburi was suffering from weakness and had fainted. He was treated at the scene before being secured onto a stretcher board.
Ropes were anchored to large trees to stabilise the descent, allowing rescuers to carefully guide the injured man and his four companions down the mountain. The operation took around one hour to complete.
The injured tourist was later transported to Khao Yoi Hospital for further treatment. All five individuals were brought down safely.
According to one member of the group, they had travelled to the area to explore nature and planned to carry sandstone up the mountain to build a small chedi as part of a merit-making activity. They began their ascent at around 14:00, but during the descent one of their friends became unwell. After providing first aid and allowing him to rest, they decided to call for help when his condition did not improve.
Authorities said the successful rescue was the result of coordinated efforts between volunteers, local officials and members of the public.
