Jaslinda Saludin (Photo: Kaki Jalan Malaysia / Facebook)
The rescue of a Malaysian hiker who was found alive after two weeks in the wilderness was described by a friend as “a miracle” on Sunday. Authorities have since ended a massive manhunt that gripped the country.
Indigenous Malaysians found Jaslinda Saludin late Saturday in a wooded area near the small town of Tapah in the central Malaysian state of Perak, some distance from where she was initially reported missing, local newspapers reported.
Jaslinda (49), who is described as an experienced hiker, was last seen two weeks ago as she tackled the Trans Spencer Chapman route – a grueling 34km trek along the treacherous Titiwangsa mountain range.
She left a rest camp alone to climb Gunung Batu Putih, also known as White Rock Mountain, before she was reported missing.
Her disappearance made front-page news in the Southeast Asian country and prompted a major search involving helicopters, local indigenous Malaysian communities and a specialized team from Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department.
She was found by local fishermen on Saturday afternoon. According to reports, she survived by drinking water from rivers and eating berries and other forest plants.
“When we heard she was found safe, it felt like our prayers were answered. It’s truly a miracle,” said her friend, Hishammuddin Ahmad.
After her rescue, Jaslinda was taken to hospital.
“She sustained minor injuries, including insect bites and wounds to her head,” Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, assistant director of operations at the Perak Fire and Rescue Department, told the newspaper The Star said.
In a post on Saturday on X, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim thanked those involved in the rescue effort “for protecting sister Jaslinda”.