TAPAH: Hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who went missing when hiking at Gunung Batu Putih on May 24, was found safe near Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Gaharu Saturday (June 6).
Villager Nazri Bah Eng, 55, who discovered her at about 5pm said she was staggering and holding a plastic bag containing several types of plants and mushrooms when he and two other family members were heading towards a river near their village.
“We happened to be going fishing in the river when suddenly one of us noticed Jaslinda in a weak state and crying. She was also carrying a plastic bag filled with mushrooms.
“I immediately brought her back to the village chief’s house, and we gave her food and drinks because she looked extremely exhausted,” he said when met at the Tapah Hospital here, Saturday.
After ensuring the victim was safe, he quickly contacted the authorities to inform them of the discovery before the search and rescue team arrived at the location, he added.
Jaslinda was part of a group of 13 individuals led by two forestry mountain guides who began the Trans Spencer Chapman hike at 2 am on May 23, via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh trail.
Jaslinda and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, experienced health issues and stopped but she reportedly continued her journey to the mountain peak and was last seen at 7.30am on May 24.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Mountain Guide Association (PMGM) chairman Muzafar Mohamad said strong mental resilience and access to river water are believed to have helped hiker Jaslinda Saludin survive almost 14 days in the forest after she went missing on Gunung Batu Putih here on May 24 before being found safe Saturday.
He said that based on experience from search and rescue (SAR) operations in mountainous terrain, the 49-year-old was believed to have followed a river after realising she had lost her way.
He said such a move is among the basic survival strategies commonly adopted by lost hikers, as rivers provide a continuous source of water and may eventually lead to human settlements.
“When a lost person reaches a river, they usually remain close to it and continue moving along its course because it is often the safest route out of the forest.
“In Jaslinda’s case, we believe she followed Sungai Ayer Busok from the area near Gunung Rayu towards Pos Musoh, covering an estimated 8km to 10km,” he told Bernama.
Muzafar said SAR teams had earlier believed that if the victim was still alive, she might have been stranded in the river valley due to the steep terrain and several large waterfalls that were difficult to navigate.
“Several search teams that attempted to follow the route previously were forced to turn back because of strong river currents and challenging geographical obstacles,” he said.
Commenting on Jaslinda’s ability to survive for nearly 14 days in the forest, Muzafar said humans can live for a prolonged period without food as long as they have sufficient water.
“I believe she relied solely on river water and avoided the risk of consuming unidentified plants or fruits, which could have caused poisoning,” he said.
He also described Jaslinda as mentally resilient, noting that she managed to continue moving under difficult conditions until she was eventually found.
Meanwhile, emotional scenes unfolded at Tapah Hospital as Jaslinda reunited with family members and friends, including her husband, Haszman Othman, 61, and sister, Jasima, 52, who embraced her upon seeing her. – Bernama
