Swiss hiker airlifted to Bali after Rinjani fall

Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Swiss national Benedikt Emmenegger, 46, has been evacuated from Mount Rinjani on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, after falling while hiking on Wednesday, according to the Mataram SAR Office.

Mataram SAR Office Head Muhamad Hariyadi stated that the victim was airlifted by helicopter to Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) Hospital on the neighboring island of Bali.

"Emmenegger was evacuated to BIMC Hospital in Denpasar, Bali, for further treatment," Hariyadi remarked here.

The Swiss national was flown from Lombok Island along with his children and a Spanish doctor. Upon arriving at the Bali Air Helipad in Denpasar at 5:30 p.m. local time, he was promptly evacuated to the hospital.

According to the Mount Rinjani National Park Office (BTNGR) statement, Emmenegger began his hike with a group on Tuesday (July 15), entering from the Sembalun track.

The national park authority received the report of Emmenegger's fall on Wednesday at 11:25 a.m. local time from the guide and porter who accompanied him and promptly dispatched the report to the Mataram SAR Office.

BTNGR evacuation team head Gede Mustika stated that the Swiss national suffered from a broken leg and bleeding as a result of the fall.

Mustika also confirmed that the victim did not fall into a cliff or a ravine. "He fell in the path on the way to the lake (Segara Anak). I believe he slipped," the officer added.

Mount Rinjani, a popular tourism attraction in West Nusa Tenggara, has seen a series of hiking incidents on the mountain, including one involving a Malaysian national who was injured after a fall near Lake Segara Anak on June 28.

In a high-profile case, Brazilian tourist Juliana Marins fell into a ravine on June 21 and died there. Her body was recovered by SAR officers on June 25, after a challenging evacuation hindered by extreme weather and her remote location at the base of the Rinjani ravine.

In response, the West Nusa Tenggara provincial government announced plans to review hiking routes and regulations to enhance safety and prepare new policies in coordination with relevant stakeholders to minimize future risks.