A series of safety accidents occurred in mountainous areas of Gangwon Province over the weekend, leaving a hiker in his 70s and a rock climber in his 50s dead.
According to police and fire authorities Sunday, a hiker in his 70s lost consciousness and collapsed while hiking on Mount Duta in Samhwa-dong, Donghae, at around 1:09 p.m. that day. He was airlifted to a hospital in cardiac arrest but ultimately died. Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.
At around 1:55 p.m. the same day, a man in his 50s fell while rock climbing in the Ulsanbawi area of Mount Seorak in Sokcho. The climber was rescued by a mountain rescue team and transported to a hospital but eventually died. The rope reportedly fell along with the climber, leaving three accompanying climbers in their 50s stranded on the rock face before they were rescued.
Near Bongjeongam on Mount Seorak in Yongdae-ri, Buk-myeon, Inje County, a hiker in his 60s complained of paralysis symptoms in his left arm and leg at around 2:30 p.m. and was transported to a hospital by fire helicopter.
Earlier that day at around 7:26 a.m., a hiker in his 60s slipped and fell about 10 meters on a trail toward the Dokjugol Valley near the Namseorak Visitor Support Center on Mount Seorak in Seo-myeon, Yangyang County. The hiker, who suffered injuries to his head and legs, was taken to a hospital for treatment.
