KOTA TINGGI: The body of climber Zahalita Othman, 52, who died due to breathing difficulties while climbing Mount Reskit, Kuala Tahan in Pahang, on Tuesday (Feb 6), was buried at 2am earlier today at the Felda Sungai Mas Muslim Cemetery, here.
Present at the burial were family members and close acquaintances of the mother of five.
Zahalita's third child, Luqman Haziq Saharuddin, 25, said he was still shocked by his mother's death.
"Her interest in mountain climbing started four or five years ago. She was a healthy person with no health problems. Her death is shocking, but we have to accept it," he said.
The youngest sibling, Safiyyah Umairah, 17, said her mother had stocked up food, as well as cooked some food, at home before she left for the climb.
"Usually, she would just make sure there was food for us to cook ourselves when she was out mountain climbing somewhere, but since this climb took a week, she had cooked the food for us and told us to only heat the food.
"And before she left, she also told us to pray for her safe trip and return," she said.
Zahalita, who participated in a mountain climbing programme to hike Gunung Tahan since Feb 1, died due to breathing problems.
However, efforts to bring down her remains were hampered by bad weather including thick fog and failure to locate the exact location.
Her remains were airlifted using a Fire and Rescue Department helicopter yesterday (Feb 8).
— Bernama
Keywords: climber, Gunung Reskit, bury, Zahalita Othman, breathing difficulties