MATARAM, Indonesia — A joint search and rescue (SAR) team successfully evacuated a Chinese national, Li Xianhua, 47, following a severe trekking accident along the Senaru–Batu Ceper trail on Mount Rinjani, authorities confirmed Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The hiker slipped and sustained a severe head impact, resulting in temporary unconsciousness before emergency rescue protocols were initiated by the Mataram SAR Office.
Upon receiving the distress call, the Mataram SAR Office deployed a joint task force comprising field operatives from the Sembalun and Bangsal SAR Units, Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) rangers, emergency medical personnel, local police, military officers, and local porters.
Key operational milestones of the overnight evacuation include:
- Incident Timeline: The victim slipped along the Senaru–Batu Ceper route at approximately 8:00 AM WITA on Monday, September 14, 2026.
- On-Site Reach: Joint rescue teams reached the injured hiker on the mountain slope at 8:15 PM WITA to administer emergency first aid and stabilization.
- Overnight Relay Evacuation: Rescue teams carried the victim via a stretcher relay down the steep terrain, arriving safely at the Senaru TNGR Post at 4:47 AM WITA on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The victim was immediately transferred to the Nusa Medica Clinic in Sembalun for intensive medical treatment. Regional authorities praised the swift inter-agency collaboration that ensured a successful rescue under extreme field conditions.
