Camper and 70-year-old mum rescued after being trapped on remote island while Typhoon Higos lashes Hong Kong
- Man was not aware of imminent storm as he had been camping on Tap Mun since Friday
- Rescuers had to hike up to campsite and lead duo downhill to safety
A 38-year-old camper trapped on a remote islet with his elderly mother while their belongings were blown away by Typhoon Higos told Hong Kong rescuers he was unaware of the imminent storm as he had been there since last Friday.
The duo, who were on Tap Mun (Grass Island), called emergency services at about 7am on Wednesday – when the No 9 typhoon signal was still in force – to say they were stuck and that their camping supplies had all blown away.
They were reportedly uninjured. But the mother, 70, showed signs of hypothermia.
Police had sought help from the Government Flying Service in a bid to airlift the woman to hospital but a helicopter could not be deployed because of the bad weather. The rescue team had to hike up to the camping spot.
Officers led the pair downhill and a marine police launch was deployed to pick up mother and son, ferrying them to the shore in Sai Kung.
According to a police source, the man lives in Fanling. He went camping on the island last Friday and his mother joined him on Tuesday.
“He told officers that he did not receive any information about the arrival of the typhoon because there was no mobile phone signal at the campsite,” the source said.