TWO members of Shenzhen Blue Sky Rescue (BSR), a nonprofit rescue organization, were killed during a rescue operation that saved 24 trapped hikers on Baima Mountain in Huizhou City. The bodies of the two rescuers, Xu Tingxiu and Yin Qihe, were found at noon Monday and Tuesday, respectively, after an arduous search, according to a notice released by Shenzhen BSR on Tuesday afternoon. Shenzhen BSR received a call from some hikers at 8:08 p.m. Saturday. It was reported that a female hiker had fallen off a cliff at around 6 p.m. while river trekking on Baima Mountain in Huidong County of Huizhou, along with 23 companions. The hikers called for an emergency rescue because the woman was seriously injured and could not move. Moreover, heavy rain and mountain torrents were about to hit. A rescue operation was immediately launched by Shenzhen BSR after it received the call. As the rescue team was carrying out exchange activities in Huizhou during the day, and due to the principle of proximity, four team members, including Xu and Yin, voluntarily went to the mountain to start the search. They arrived at the foot of the mountain at 10:38 p.m. that evening and found the stranded hikers at 12:10 a.m. Meanwhile, considering that the weather conditions might become worse, Shenzhen BSR dispatched another three-member group to the mountain to provide additional supplies. Thanks to the joint efforts of Shenzhen BSR and other rescue teams, the injured hiker was rescued off the mountain at 9:57 a.m. Sunday and all of the other trapped hikers were safely taken off the mountain by 5 p.m. the same day despite the rain, according to Shenzhen BSR. Nevertheless, Xu and Yin were unable to descend the mountain when they were aiding the evacuation of the last group of 16 trapped hikers, as the streams were flowing swiftly. The two lost contact after separating from the rescue team. Xu was found by the rescue members at 12 p.m. Monday but was confirmed dead by the forensic doctor. The body of Yin was found at 12:26 p.m. Tuesday. According to Shenzhen BSR, Yin joined the rescue team in 2013 and was the deputy head of the team’s supervision division. Xu joined BSR in 2017 and was active and hard-working during drills. Founded on May 26, 2013, Shenzhen BSR focuses on such areas as outdoor accident rescue, urban accident rescue and natural disaster rescue. It currently has more than 140 members. (Zhang Yu) |