An Australian woman who was reported missing while hiking on Gunung Santubong in Sarawak has been found safe following a second-day search and rescue (SAR) operation.
The victim, identified as Belinda Lapier, was discovered at around 11.59am on Friday by rescuers. She was found in a safe condition with only minor injuries.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department’s operations centre, the woman is believed to have strayed off the F10 trail while descending from the summit before getting lost near the F7 area.
Rescue teams said they managed to establish communication with the hiker, but efforts to reach her were hampered by extremely steep terrain, estimated at up to 90 degrees, as well as dense rocks and large trees that made access difficult.
Earlier, Forest Santubong authorities reported that the woman was feared to have fallen after losing contact during the hike. Although rescuers were able to communicate with her around 5pm, her exact location could not be pinpointed at the time.
The SAR operation involved 11 firefighters from the Petra Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, divided into two teams, with one group taking an alternative route to locate the victim.
Police also deployed a drone to assist in the search, but efforts were unsuccessful due to the thick forest canopy in the area.
