BASSETERRE, ST. Kitts - RANKS from the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force were forced during rainy conditions to undertake a rescuse mission of a Chinese national in the vicinity of Mount Liamuiga.
According to officials from the Department of Environment, on Saturday evening (Feb. 6), Forestry Officer in the DoE, Dr. Eric Browne, received a report from the Director of Safety & Loss Prevention at Kittitian Hill, Mr. Charles Smithen, that two Chinese nationals had gone missing.
That report indicated that two of them were residing at the Ramada Hotel had gone to Mount Liamuiga during the day and were lost in an area with a deep ghaut above Kittitian Hill and assistance was needed to locate them.
“The Forestry officer and the response team in collaboration with Hiking Guide Mr. Tyrone Belle and Chinese personnel from the Ramada hotel embarked on a search for the missing hiker, Mr. Lee. The Ramada personnel were in contact with the hiker via cell phone; however, the language barrier made communication with the rest of the team very difficult.
“This initial search started about 12:10 a.m., accessing the crater trail from Kittitian Hill and lasted until about 4:15 a.m. The search area was accurately identified but the rescue efforts were hampered and subsequently had to be suspended because of unfavourable cold, rainy and foggy conditions. The rescue efforts were resumed at first light and continued throughout the day with the collaboration of a number of entities including the Police lead by Insp. Caines, Fire and Rescue Services, hiking guides Mr. Antonio Agard and Mr. Tyrone Belle, Defence Force and the Boys Scouts.
“The mission ended on a very high note when a very exhausted but cheerful Mr. Lee was successfully located in a deep ravine some distance off the trail. The response team slowly lead him out of the ravine, back onto the trail and out of the forest to Kittitian Hill, where an Emergency Medical Services unit was waiting to give him attention and take him away for further treatment. Mr. Lee expressed his gratitude to his rescuers,” the statement explained.
Dr. Browne acknowledged that it was a successful outcome to what could have been a potentially grave or even fatal situation.
“In light of this, while we at the Department of Environment continue to encourage the community to enjoy the serenity of our lust tropical rainforest, we firmly implore hikers and other users of the Central Forest Reserve National Park to respect the Park’s environment and to adhere to the protocols,” he added.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Unlike what the release from the Department of Environment stated at the beginning, it was not two Chinese nationals who had gone missing, but one.
