A British man in his 70s has died while descending Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia’s highest peak and one of Southeast Asia’s most renowned climbing destinations.
The climber was found unconscious at the 8.2km mark of the descent, just beyond the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint, on the morning of 25 February.
An emergency call was made at 7:17 am, prompting authorities to dispatch a rescue team comprising Mountain Search and Rescue personnel, Sabah Parks rangers, medical responders, and mountain guides.
According to Ranau Fire and Rescue station chief assistant superintendent Ridwan Mohd Taib, rescuers reached the scene at 10:15 am and administered first aid, but the climber remained unresponsive.
He was then carried to Panalaban Hut before being transported down the mountain on a stretcher.
At 5:08 pm, the climber was brought to Timpohon Gate, the main entry and exit point for Mount Kinabalu, where medical personnel from the Ministry of Health examined him but found no signs of life.
“The body was later handed over to police for further action,” Mr Ridwan said.
Authorities have not disclosed the climber’s identity. The rescue operation officially concluded at 5:21 pm.
Mount Kinabalu, standing at 4,095 metres, attracts thousands of climbers annually. While generally considered an accessible climb for those in good health, altitude sickness and physical exhaustion pose significant risks, particularly for older climbers.
The incident follows another recent tragedy involving a British tourist in the Himalayas. Tom Howard, 27, died days earlier after falling from a cliff during a descent in the Dhauladhar mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India.
