Lion Rock claims another hiker after woman's 50-metre cliff fall
A woman was killed yesterday after plunging 50 metres from a cliff while hiking on the rugged Lion Rock.
Chan Yu-ying, 48, a medical worker at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, met a 53-year-old friend, surnamed Yeung, and the friend's 16-year-old son, surnamed Yip, at Tsui Chuk Garden in Wong Tai Sin at about 9am.
The trio planned to climb over Lion Rock along an unnamed path to Sha Tin.
Police said that when they got lost along the path and climbed upward along a rough cliff to try to find a way out, Chan slipped and fell 50 metres.
She suffered severe injuries and lost consciousness.
The mother and son called for help about 1.20pm.
A Government Flying Service helicopter took Chan to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, where she was declared dead at 4.11pm.
The stranded mother and son were later rescued by the Civil Aid Service and flown to safety.
They told police the three had some hiking experience, but the mother and son had never hiked in that area before.
Chan Sik-yan, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Countryside Activities, warned hikers to stay away from the difficult terrain of Lion Rock, whether they were well equipped or not.
'You can take out boulders on the area very easily. You can see how loose the rocks are,' Mr Chan said.
He said it was safer to use the MacLehose Trail at the mid-hill level, adding that hikers should also pay attention to the heat and humidity.
In February, 52-year-old Leung Ting-yuen died on Lion Rock after suffering a heart attack while hiking.
Leung was hiking with 11 others near the lion's tail when he collapsed after complaining of feeling sick.
A Government Flying Service helicopter flew the construction site foreman to Pamela Youde Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A former legislator for the medical sector, Lo Wing-lok, said people who did not exercise regularly should avoid strenuous sports such as hiking.
