Po Pin Chau Double Heat Stroke: Helicopter Rescues Two Hikers as Hot Weather Warning Persists
HK01 · 6 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago3 MIN
Summary
Two separate heat stroke incidents occurred at Po Pin Chau in Sai Kung within a span of less than two hours on Sunday, prompting emergency helicopter rescues and underscoring the lethal dangers of Hong Kong's extreme summer weather. The first victim, a young man in his mid-20s, was airlifted to safety after collapsing near the viewing platform at East Dam of High Island Reservoir around noon. Emergency services were deployed again approximately 80 minutes later for another hiker showing symptoms of heat stroke near the same location. A third heat stroke case was reported at Plover Cove in Tai Po around 1 pm. Both incidents unfolded under the backdrop of a Very Hot Weather Warning that the Hong Kong Observatory issued at 6:45 am, with the affected areas recording temperatures of 32.7 to 33 degrees Celsius at midday .
Key Points
- Civil Aid Service personnel first discovered a man in his mid-20s suffering suspected heat stroke near the Po Pin Chau viewing platform at East Dam of High Island Reservoir around 12:09 pm; he was subsequently rescued by a Government Flying Service helicopter and taken to Wan Chai helipad before being transferred by ambulance to Ruttonjee Hospital .
- At 1:27 pm, police received another report of a foreign man aged around 57 experiencing vomiting and suspected heat stroke near the same viewing platform; he was assisted down the mountain by firefighters and did not require hospitalisation .
- A third heat stroke incident was reported around 1 pm at Plover Cove Reservoir in Tai Po, involving a man in his 40s who self-reported the incident and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment .
- The Hong Kong Observatory issued a Very Hot Weather Warning at 6:45 am on Sunday morning, forecasting temperatures of up to 33 degrees Celsius; Sai Kung's Pak Tam Chung recorded 32.7 degrees Celsius at 1 pm while Tai Po recorded 33 degrees Celsius around the same time .
- The Observatory and health authorities advised members of the public to wear light-coloured, loose clothing, use wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, stay hydrated, and avoid prolonged sun exposure, noting that heat stroke can prove fatal with mortality rates reaching 40 to 50 percent for all age groups and up to 70 percent for those aged 50 and above .
Why It Matters
These back-to-back heat stroke emergencies highlight the serious health risks posed by Hong Kong's extreme summer weather, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts engaging in strenuous activities like hiking. With the Very Hot Weather Warning expected to remain in effect and temperatures continuing to soar, authorities are urging the public to take necessary precautions, stay hydrated, and avoid prolonged sun exposure to prevent similar life-threatening situations from occurring more frequently across the territory .
These back-to-back heat stroke emergencies highlight the serious health risks posed by Hong Kong's extreme summer weather, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts engaging in strenuous activities like hiking. With the Very Hot Weather Warning expected to remain in effect and temperatures continuing to soar, authorities are urging the public to take necessary precautions, stay hydrated, and avoid prolonged sun exposure to prevent similar life-threatening situations from occurring more frequently across the territory .