CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The search for a missing hiker at Gunung Irau has come to a happy ending today after she was found safe.
District police chief Deputy Superintendent Hasadid A. Hamid said Norfatin Sulaiman, 29, was found at 2.15pm, in a weak condition after spending more than 40 hours on the mountain.
"The victim managed to call her friend yesterday describing her location, near a stream and an open area before her handphone battery went out,
"With that information, we narrowed down our search to three main streams found at the area," he said.
Hasadid said 75 rescuers from various agencies were deployed this morning to find the victim and they managed to locate her at one of the streams.
It was reported that a group of 47 hikers from Kuala Lumpur arrived here to climb the mountain at 8.30am on Saturday.
Prior to the climb, they divided into five smaller groups. The victim was believed to part of the last team.
The hikers, however, only noticed Norfatin missing while on their way down from the Mini Irau checkpoint to Pisang checkpoint at 5.30pm the same day.
Meanwhile, Hasadid urged hikers to inform the authorities before embarking on any climbing expedition in Cameron Highlands.
"Once the organiser receives a permit from the Forestry Department, they have to inform us. We need to know how many people are involved, what time they start their journey and such.
"However, this group has failed to do this. For now, we have taken a statement from the organiser pertaining to this incident." he added.