Lombok. A Dutch hiker, identified by the initials STVH, had an accident while descending the trail on Mount Rinjani.

The victim reportedly fell while taking the Plawangan Sembalun route toward Segara Anak Lake, a trail known to be quite extreme and challenging for hikers. The Mataram Search and Rescue Office promptly responded to the report by launching an evacuation effort via air using a helicopter operated by SGI Air Bali.

The Head of the Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) Office, Muhammad Hariyadi, confirmed that they received a report of a life-threatening situation at 2:00 p.m., central Indonesia Time on Thursday. It was reported that a female foreign national had an accident on the Plawangan Sembalun trail toward Segara Anak Lake.

"According to the report we received, the victim fell while traveling from Plawangan Sembalun toward Segara Anak Lake. The terrain is steep and dangerous," Hariyadi said Friday.

Upon receiving the information, the Mataram SAR team immediately took swift action. A rescue team from the Kayangan SAR post was dispatched and promptly coordinated with the Mount Rinjani National Park Authority, the trekking organizer, as well as the porter and guide accompanying the victim.

Given the difficult terrain and the potential for the victim’s condition to worsen, Mataram SAR decided to use the air route. They quickly coordinated with the Denpasar SAR Office and SGI Air Bali to deploy an evacuation helicopter.

“At 3:45 p.m., the SGI Air Bali helicopter was dispatched from Bali to the incident location. The estimated flight time was around 45 minutes,” Hariyadi explained.

While the helicopter was en route, a ground team from the Kayangan SAR post was also mobilized to the site. Their task was to prepare a landing area and provide initial assistance if necessary.

The location of this Dutch national’s accident was not far from the site of an incident involving a Swiss national the previous day. In that earlier case, a helicopter had also successfully landed in the same area, which serves as an emergency helipad near Segara Anak Lake.

“At 4:41 p.m., we received a report that the helicopter had successfully landed at the same location as during the Swiss national’s evacuation. The site is ideal for emergency landings and had been previously mapped,” Hariyadi explained.

At 4:54 p.m., the helicopter took off with the victim, accompanied by a doctor and a companion, en route to Denpasar. The helicopter landed at the SGI Air Bali hangar at 5:30 p.m., and the victim was subsequently taken to BIMC Hospital in Kuta, Bali, for further treatment.

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