LIPIS: The operation to rescue a university student, who was bitten by a snake while hiking Gunung Tahan yesterday, could be only executed today due to the lengthy distance to reach the Camp Botak site in Jerantut.
Yesterday, a 20-year-old female hiker was bitten by a 'ular kapak' (viper) while having her bath at Camp Botak about 6pm before she was brought out for treatment by the Fire and Rescue Department's helicopter today.
Lipis police chief Superintendent Ismail Man said the incident was reported late in the evening and it would take about 10 hours along a challenging terrain to reach the campsite on foot.
"The victim was bitten by a snake near her left hand palm while having a bath at the campsite about 6pm yesterday. The mountain guides and other team members had provided first aid to the victim," he said in a statement today.
Ismail said the hiker, an undergraduate from a university in Selangor, was brought out by the helicopter and taken to Lipis Hospital for further treatment at 10.20am today.
Meanwhile, Ismail said the victim, along with 36 university students, three university staffs, two mountain guides and four Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) staff members, began their hike on June 25 and was supposed to descend on June 29.
It was reported earlier that the Fire and Rescue Department's Agusta AW189 helicopter, along with two medical staff, reached the female victim at 9.40am today to provide treatment and bring her to Lipis hospital.