Rescue of Four Foreign Hikers in the Philippines: A Tale of Survival

Four foreign hikers, including nationals from Germany, Russia, Canada, and Britain, were rescued in the Philippines after being lost for days due to heavy rain and fog. Their condition was stable with minor injuries, and they survived by eating plants in the forest.

On Saturday, four foreign hikers were rescued in the central Philippines after being missing for several days. This rescue took place a day after their two companions were found safe. The six-member group included nationals from Germany, Britain, Russia, and Canada, who began a four-hour excursion in Negros Oriental, an area recently affected by heavy rains.

Jose Lawrence Silorio, a rescue official from Amlan municipality, confirmed the hikers were located near the Silab hydropower plant. The group comprised Aldwin Fink, 60, and Wolfgang Schlenker, 67, from Germany; Anton Chernov, 38, from Russia; and Terry De Gunten, 50, from Canada. According to investigator Leo Gil Villafranca, the hikers got lost due to fog in a dense mountainous region.

Local authorities reported that the group was found at 9:44 a.m. (0144 GMT), with minor injuries such as abrasions. Silorio mentioned that one hiker was wrapped in a blanket due to feeling cold but was able to stand afterward. The hikers survived by foraging for edible plants in the forest during their ordeal.

The rescuers found the group approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from where Groschupp and Radvanyi were discovered on Friday. An image from the police Facebook page depicted De Gunten with bloodied legs being attended to by rescue personnel, while Chernov rested on a stretcher.

Police noted that challenging weather conditions likely contributed to the hikers’ disorientation on the difficult trail they attempted without a guide. Valencia police officer Henry Japay highlighted that visibility was significantly impaired during rain, and there was no cell phone reception in the area, suggesting the hikers may have sought shelter to wait out the storm.

In summary, four foreign hikers were successfully rescued in the Philippines after becoming lost due to heavy rain and fog. They survived with minor injuries and by consuming edible plants. This incident emphasizes the hazards of hiking in challenging conditions without a guide.

Original Source: www.gulftoday.ae