TWO YOUNG BRITS GRIN AS THEY ARE RESCUED AT THE TOP OF VOLCANO IN BALI
Two British tourists grinned as they were rescued from the top of a 'dangerous' Bali volcano after getting lost while hiking.
Matthew Forster, 22, and Andrew Forster, 18, from London, trekked up the deadly Mount Agung in Indonesia on July 3.
But they got lost in the forest on their way down in the Karangasem Regency and had to spend a night in the wilderness.
Despite thick fog and poor visibility hampering search efforts, rescuers found the Brits safe but exhausted at around 6:15 pm local time the next evening on July 4.
Coordinator of the Basarnas Karangasem Search and Rescue Post I Gusti Ngurah Eka Wiadnyana said: 'When we found them, both were in a limp state due to exhaustion.
'However, both of them could still make their own way down the mountain.'
The hikers said they became lost during the descent because they did not memorise the path back.
A friend of the pair called the police after they failed to answer their phones.
Later that night their mobiles rang dead and police feared the signal had been lost.
Karangasem search and rescue personnel and volunteers were dispatched to the scene, where they found an abandoned rental motorcycle near a rarely used hiking trail.
They called the phone number on the bike and the rental shop confirmed it had been taken out by the youngsters.
The owner told officials they were 'excited' about going to the top of the volcano.
Head of Basarnas Bali I Nyoman Sidakarya said: 'From the information of the community and the team, there was a sound of someone screaming for help.
'At 6.15pm WITA, the location was found, and the tourists were discovered in good health at an altitude of 1,700 metres (5,577 feet) above sea level.
'They are lucky to have survived. The conditions on the volcano are very dangerous.'
The pair were given first aid and then taken to the Bebandem Police Station for questioning.
Mount Agung is an active volcano and the highest point on Bali at an elevation of 9,944 feet (3,031 meters).
The Balinese Buddhist Hindus considered the mountain to be sacred and traditionally believed it to be the 'Navel of the World'.
Many temples are built on the slopes of the mountain including the mother temple of Besakih.
Read more 2024-07-05T14:15:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd