PHETCHABURI, THAILAND – Five tourists were stranded on Khao Ego on the evening of 18 April and were brought safely down in a night-time rescue operation. A 21-year-old collapsed from exhaustion during the descent and was later treated in hospital.
Alarm on Khao Ego: Tourists unable to continue
Volunteers from the Sawang Sanphet Dhammasathan Foundation in Phetchaburi were called to assist five stranded tourists on Khao Ego, a mountain about 900 meters high in Nong Chumphon subdistrict, Khao Yoi district. They responded by launching a mountain rescue and heading to the site with lighting, rescue equipment and additional volunteers.
The team organized their approach to reach the group where they had halted on the slope. Their goal was to stabilize the situation and prepare a controlled descent for all five tourists.
Difficult terrain: steep, rocky and completely dark
During the operation, the mountain was described as steep and rocky, and darkness made both orientation and the descent more difficult. To enable the rescue, the team used a generator and a spotlight to illuminate the route down the mountain.
The artificial lighting created a visible path for rescuers and tourists alike. This allowed the group to move more safely despite the challenging terrain and lack of natural light.
21-year-old collapses during descent
A 21-year-old man from Mueang Phetchaburi district suddenly felt weak while descending and was unable to continue walking. Rescue workers transported him on a stretcher and secured the route with ropes fastened to large trees so the group could be guided down in a controlled manner.
The combination of the stretcher and rope safety system allowed rescuers to manage the steep sections without further incident. The other four tourists accompanied the team as they moved slowly toward the foot of the mountain.
Nature trail outing and merit-making plan
According to one group member, the five were visiting as tourists and began their ascent at about 2 p.m. to explore the nature trail. They also intended to carry stones and sand up the mountain to build a pagoda as an act of religious merit-making.
This combination of sightseeing and religious activity extended their time on the mountain. As a result, they were still on the slope when darkness fell and conditions worsened.
First aid and emergency call after condition fails to improve
When the 21-year-old became exhausted during the descent, the others first administered basic first aid. As his condition did not improve, they placed an emergency call and requested rescue services.
Rescuers then moved in to reach the group and provide additional medical support. Their intervention enabled the safe continuation of the descent under supervision.
All brought down safely: hospital transfer and rescue duration
In the end, all five tourists were brought safely down from the mountain. The weakened man was taken to Khao Yoi Hospital for treatment.
According to DailyNews, the entire rescue operation lasted about one hour. The coordinated response minimized the time the group spent in the dangerous conditions on the slope.
Similar incident in Chiang Mai: Tourists lost in forest
In Chiang Mai, two more tourists—a Russian man and a Chinese woman—were also found safe after a search and rescue operation on Doi Nang Meh. It was believed that they lost their orientation at nightfall, making it difficult for them to find their way out of the forest.
The pair were located and assisted back to safety after darkness set in. Their case highlighted similar risks for visitors navigating forested terrain late in the day.