Three Hikers Fall Ill as Hong Kong Trails Sizzle in 33°C Heat
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
At least three hikers fell ill on Hong Kong countryside trails on Sunday as temperatures climbed to 33 degrees Celsius amid a very hot weather warning. A 25-year-old visitor suffered suspected heatstroke on the popular High Island Reservoir East Dam-Po Pin Chau route in Sai Kung and required helicopter evacuation to hospital. Another two hikers, including a 57-year-old foreign man, also required rescue assistance on the same day.
Key Points
- A 25-year-old male visitor was rescued by government helicopter from the High Island Reservoir East Dam-Po Pin Chau trail at around noon, taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for suspected heatstroke
- The 57-year-old foreign man developed dizziness at 1:30pm on the same trail and was helped down by rescuers; he declined further medical treatment
- Police received a report at 1:01pm from a hiker on the Plover Cove Reservoir Country Trail in Tai Po who felt unwell and suspected heatstroke; rescue personnel airlifted him to safety
- The Hong Kong Observatory issued a very hot weather warning at 6:45am on both Saturday and Sunday
- During the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival period, an average of 2,360 people per day booked visits to the Po Pin Chau route, with actual attendance averaging about 1,170 visitors daily
Why It Matters
The incidents highlight the dangers of hiking during extreme heat in Hong Kong's countryside, where popular trails attract thousands of visitors during holiday periods. As climate patterns bring more frequent heatwaves, authorities face increasing pressure to implement safety measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent heat-related emergencies on the territory's scenic but demanding hiking routes .
The incidents highlight the dangers of hiking during extreme heat in Hong Kong's countryside, where popular trails attract thousands of visitors during holiday periods. As climate patterns bring more frequent heatwaves, authorities face increasing pressure to implement safety measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent heat-related emergencies on the territory's scenic but demanding hiking routes .