Hong Kong hiker on Devil’s Peak dies after complaining about feeling unwell, as unusually warm winter weather hits city
- Man had called police and was evacuated by helicopter to hospital where he was later certified dead
- Weather station closest to area records high of 27 degrees Celsius, nearing record overall mark of 28.3 set in 2009 for February
A hiker on Devil’s Peak in Kowloon, Hong Kong, died after complaining about feeling unwell as unusually warm winter weather hit the city on Saturday.
The man, surnamed Chan and aged 45, called police at 12.23pm and reported that he felt dizzy while walking towards Yau Tong in the hilly area, which rises to 222 metres.
A Government Flying Service helicopter was deployed to take him to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on Hong Kong Island, where he was certified dead at 2.55pm.
Meanwhile, police also received a call at about 1.30pm of a woman who felt unwell after hiking for more than 30 minutes with three men along Dragon Trail in Siu Sai Wan.
The woman, 60, was sent to the same hospital.
The city’s temperature on Saturday went beyond 25 degrees Celsius. The highest mark ever observed for the month of February was 28.3 degrees in 2009, since records began in 1884.