Tense moments as Malaysian hiker falls on Mount Rinjani, evacuated by helicopter

Basarnas confirmed that a Malaysian female hiker who sustained serious injuries on Mount Rinjani in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, is receiving medical treatment in Denpasar, Bali. Deputy Operations Chief of Basarnas Edy Prakoso in Jakarta on Tuesday stated that the victim was finally hospitalised after SAR teams successfully completed the aerial medical evacuation (EMU) safely this morning, which had been delayed due to extreme weather conditions at the pickup site. “The victim, who fell while descending the climbing route from the summit towards Pelawangan, was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in Bali for intensive medical care,” he added. He explained that Basarnas’s Mataram SAR Office initially received a report on Monday, 25 May, regarding a foreign hiker who had fallen and was unable to move. The victim was then manually evacuated by porters and tour guides to Pelawangan 2 Sembalun. In response to the report, rescue teams from Kayangan SAR Post and Mataram SAR Office immediately mobilised, deploying a commercial helicopter from Denpasar to expedite emergency response. However, upon arrival at the site on Monday afternoon, the aerial evacuation was hindered by thick fog covering the mountain area, forcing the helicopter to return to base for flight safety while the victim’s condition was stabilised in an emergency tent. Improved weather conditions on Tuesday morning allowed the helicopter to take off from Sembalun Field at 8:05 AM WITA, then depart with the victim for Bali at 8:17 AM WITA. Mataram SAR Office confirmed the helicopter landed at Benoa Helipad in Bali at 9:05 AM WITA, where the victim was immediately referred by ambulance to Inmedika Sanur Hospital in South Denpasar through coordinated efforts with joint teams, the Mount Rinjani National Park Authority (TNGR), local government, and local SAR resources.