TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Rescuers transported the body of a 40-year-old man, surnamed Lin (林), from the challenging terrain of Xueshan's (雪山) western ridge to Taichung's Dongshi Riverside Park (東勢河濱公園) on Tuesday (Dec. 30). Lin succumbed to hypothermia during a hiking expedition, prompting a multi-day rescue operation.
Miaoli County Fire Department received word from the Taichung City Fire Department on Thursday (Dec. 26) about Lin's condition. Lin, part of a five-member hiking team, entered the trail from the 230 Trailhead for Xueshan. He fell unconscious due to hypothermia and later went into out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Despite receiving CPR from fellow hikers, Lin showed no signs of recovery.
Adverse weather initially thwarted helicopter rescue attempts. Ground search teams, including the Shei-Pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) Administration and the Seventh Special Police Corps Fifth Division, braved harsh conditions to reach Lin's location. On Monday (Dec. 29), they reached Lin's body and began preparations for transport.
Dense bamboo forests complicated the helicopter landing, so the rescuers used SKED binding techniques to move Lin's body to a suitable location for airlift. A helicopter successfully transported Lin's body to Dongshi Riverside Park by 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Authorities have now handed the case over to the police and Lin's family.
