Lost For 3 Days On Mount Abbo, Eva, A Climber From Makassar, Was Finally Found

MAKASSAR - A joint search and rescue team (SAR) has evacuated a climber from Makassar, Bau Arifah (25) after three days of being declared missing on Mount Abbo, Bantimurung, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi.

The Maros Police Chief, AKBP Musa Tampubolon, who was also monitoring the search process, said that the persistence of the joint SAR team managed to save Bau Arifah alias Eva, although in a very weak condition.

"The success of the SAR friends is thanks to the persistence of those who continue to seek and strive so that Eva's sister can be found," he said, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, June 9

AKBP Musa Tampubolon explained that the incident began when the victim and nine of his colleagues were climbing Mount Abbo, Bantimurung since Saturday, June 5.

The ascent was carried out by 10 people consisting of seven men and three women without any notification to the Bantimurung Police, the local government, village officials and local residents.

"There are all 10 of them, seven men and three women. They have been climbing since Saturday and that was without notice. The incident of the disappearance of one of their colleagues, was only known the next day," he said.

When the news of the climber's disappearance, all SAR teams immediately worked hand in hand to look for him, including the Maros Police SAR, Basarnas, PMI and other volunteer teams.

Based on the information received from her members in the field, Eva along with her nine friends were on Mount Abbo to discuss the organization they would form and before reaching the summit, they set up a tent.

However, after setting up a tent, the victim then asked for permission to urinate behind a rocky hill not far from the camp site or about 20 meters. After five minutes of the permit, the victim did not return to his tent and his other companions started looking for him.

AKBP Musa said that the search for several hours was fruitless, causing three of his other colleagues to go down the mountain looking for help and the rest to continue the search.

"Because they could not be found, some of his friends went down the mountain to ask for help and reported it to the Bantimurung Police," he said.

Musa explained that the first day of the search by the joint SAR Team only found the victim's sandals, then there were no signs of the victim's whereabouts.

"Entering the fourth day of this search, the team managed to find a jacket that allegedly belonged to Eva's sister at the last location where Eva disappeared, which is about a radius of 200 meters east of the camp site and previously found the victim's sandals," he said.

"From the findings of Eva's jacket, the team continued to search around the location, and finally managed to find the victim in a safe condition but the victim's condition was alarming," he added.

Musa said the victim was found leaning against a tree in a weak condition, dehydrated and had a head wound. The victim was then evacuated and taken to the hospital for help.