A Croatian climber who was trapped for several days after an accident on Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu, having climbed without permission, has been fined the maximum of 25,000 Malaysian ringgit. In Bangladeshi currency the sum comes to about 780,000 taka. The 46-year-old climber is named Mauro Parsic. He lives in London.
Parsic used an unauthorised route while climbing Mount Kinabalu on September 6. He fell about 10 metres. He then sent an SOS for emergency help on a weak mobile phone signal. His right leg and ribs were injured in the fall. Rescuers brought him down from the mountain after an operation lasting about five days.
The rescue operation was not easy. The route Parsic had taken up the mountain was not a designated or marked path. The rescuers had to work at great risk because of the difficult mountain terrain, rainfall and poor visibility. He was brought down on a stretcher using ropes and ladders. At least 43 members of various agencies took part in the operation.
While trapped on the mountain, Parsic had to go several days without food. He survived by collecting water from a nearby stream. Heavy rain later created flash flooding there. At one point his sleeping bag was swept away by the current and he kept himself safe by holding on to a rope attached to a rock.
Mount Kinabalu is Malaysia’s highest mountain, at 4,095 metres. It stands in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo and is part of Kinabalu Park. The mountain is culturally and spiritually important to the local Kadazandusun people, which gives particular weight to the rules and permits governing climbs there.
After the rescue, Parsic was fined the maximum of 25,000 ringgit for entering Kinabalu Park without permission. The fine was processed through the Sabah Parks authority and he paid the money. He was then informed about the rules for climbing the mountain, the safety regulations and the use of authorised routes.