KUCHING: A man, who went missing for six days while hiking at Mount Singai in Bau near here, told rescuers that he followed a ‘beautiful woman resembling a princess’ into the mountain.
Stanley Kho, 22, also told rescuers that the ‘woman’ gave him flowers plucked from the forest before he proceeded with his journey.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman, who was involved in the search and rescue (SAR) mission mounted for Kho, said the latter was mesmerised by the beauty of the ‘woman’ that he followed her without asking any questions.
The spokesman said Kho also claimed that the ‘woman’ had also taking care of him when he sustained injuries while hiking at the mountain.
“Prior to his discovery, the victim said he heard rescuers calling his name when he was resting due to his injuries at a rocky cleft near the foothills.
“The victim, however, could not respond to the calls as if he has lost his ability to speech,” the spokesman said.
Locals believed that forest and mountain are being guarded and protected by supernatural being in the form of beautiful men and women.
Kho was found by a villager from Kampung Tanjung Bowang, who heard his cries for help while going into the forest.
The villager later alerted the SAR mission. Kho was only clad in a pair of shorts when he was found at 8.30am today.
He was weak and dehydrated with injuries on his right leg.
State Fire and Rescue assistant director (operations) Tiong Ling Hii said Kho was rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital here for treatment.
He said more than 300 rescuers including villagers and members of non-governmental organisations were involved in the SAR mission since Monday.
Yesterday, the team discovered footprints in the area where Kho was found.
Kho was reported missing after he went hiking alone on Monday.
A report was lodged at 4.30pm after three of his friends failed to reach him. They found his car parked at the foothills of Mount Singai.