MIRI: Four secondary school students were rescued after becoming exhausted during a hiking trip at Lambir National Park here yesterday (Aug 29), following a search operation that lasted more than five hours.
The students were part of a group of 17 from SMK Merbau who had gone hiking in the national park.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), 13 students had managed to make their way down safely, while two others turned back uphill to search for two friends who were unable to continue because of exhaustion.
The department received the distress call at 3.29 pm, with nine firefighters from the Miri Sentral Fire and Rescue Station deployed to the scene. The team arrived at about 4.40 pm, some 30km from the station.
At about 6.40 pm, firefighters located the two students who had turned back to look for their friends.
The search continued for the remaining two students, who were found at about 7 pm. Both were reported to be exhausted but otherwise safe.
Rescuers then escorted all four students to the lower checkpoint, where they arrived safely at about 9.30 pm.
Police subsequently allowed all 17 students to return home after confirming that the four students had been brought to safety. The students left the area on motorcycles.
The operation was officially concluded at 9.51 pm after the rescue team confirmed that the situation was under control.
Three police personnel and a park ranger also assisted in the operation.
