Rian's Body, Who Died On Mount Bawakaraeng, South Sulawesi, Was Found

MAKASSAR - The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team finally found the body of the third climber, Muhammad Rian, who died from hypothermia (cold) on Mount Bawakaraeng, Gowa, South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi).

"The victim was found at 20.40 WITA about 500 meters from Post 5, dead," said Head of Makassar Basarnas, Djunaidi, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 18.

After the victim's body was found on the instructions of the victim's colleague at the local location, the joint SAR team immediately evacuated him via the Balea Bulus Line.

The victim was then taken to the Tinggimoncong Health Center, to be handed over to the family and taken to the funeral home, Jalan Mustafa Daeng Bunga, Gowa Regency.

Previously, the victim, named Rian, was reported to have been found at 14:20 WITA. But later, after being confirmed by the family, it turned out that the body of the victim found was Zainal, a friend of Rian's group who was also a victim.

The results of the police investigation showed that Rian's body was left by his climbing partner around Pos 5 to seek help.

Based on this testimony, the SAR team again mobilized the SRU to search the area that was conveyed by his colleagues Wahyudi and Suardi when accompanying victim Rian before his death.

"We received information from the police that the previous second body was not Rian but Zainal. And the victim on behalf of Rian was left around Post 5 Mount Bawakaraeng, therefore the SRU was focused on searching the area where Rian's body was informed," said Djunaidi.

The search and evacuation process was dramatic, because it was dark and the weather in the Mount Bawakaraeng area was extreme.

Previously, the three victims who were in a group of eight people, three people were declared dead and the joint SAR team had evacuated. Steven William, found at Post 7, Zainal Abidin between Post 5-6, and Muh Rian around Pos 5.

The victim is suspected of not being able to survive in the midst of extreme temperature changes while on the mountain, because he experienced severe hypothermia (cold) while climbing on Mount Bawakaraeng when the weather was very extreme.

"The extreme weather and the unpreparedness of the climbers, both mentally and with supplies, are the main factors that cause many victims to die on the mountain," he explained.