Russian Tourist Lost in Mount Merapi Found Alive

Sleman, Yogyakarta (Antara) - Russian tourist Ehbrehnin Yevgeny (26) who was lost while climbing to the top of Mount Merapi in Central Java, has been found alive. "He was found in the north of Jantungan village 600 meter west of Srimanganti Hill at around 1.46pm," commander of the Search and Rescue Team Brotoseno said at Kinahrejo command post in Cangkringan, Sleman district, here on Thursday. He said the Russian tourist was found safe and sound and only suffered some bruises and fatigue. "He is now under treatment so that he would soon recover and could be evacuated without using a stretcher," he said. He said the position of the victim had actually been known since 9am but due to a deep ravine that separates him from the team the team could not approach him. However team members who were located near him could finally reach him, he added. Brotoseno said his evacuation would be carried out soon after his condition had recovered and it would take around two hours. The Russian tourist on August 10 took part in a Volcano Tour of the mountain with his Indonesian girl friend Ester from Nologaten, Sleman. The two later returned to Yogyakarta but on the way the victim told Ester he wanted to climb to the top of the mountain, which he later did. On Sunday he sent a text message to Ester telling that he was lost and asked her to return to the mountain on Monday to find him. (*)