A heartbreaking incident occurred on the Mount Merbabu hiking trail in Boyolali, Central Java. A hiker named Widodo (44) from Semarang Regency was reported to have passed away while hiking via the Selo route on Wednesday (10/6).
Selo Police Chief, AKP Kiryanta, explained that the victim and his companion began their climb from Basecamp Gancik early Wednesday morning. Upon arriving at the Sabana II area, the victim took a brief rest before deciding to continue towards the summit. However, along the trail, the victim suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.
The victim's companion immediately sought help from fellow hikers and volunteer teams in the vicinity for emergency assistance. Although the volunteer team attempted a swift evacuation to Pandan Arang Hospital in Boyolali, hospital officials declared that the victim could not be saved and was presumed to have died several hours before arriving at the medical facility.
Boyolali Police Public Relations Officer, AKP Winarsih, confirmed that the cause of the victim's death was extreme hypothermia. Medical examination results showed no signs of physical violence. The victim's family accepted the incident as a tragic accident and decided not to pursue legal action.
In response to this incident, the police urged all individuals planning to go hiking to maintain their physical fitness, make thorough logistical preparations, and strictly follow official safety procedures. These preventive measures are crucial to minimizing fatal risks when encountering cold weather in mountainous areas.
