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Hong KongLaw and Crime

27 hours in the wild: man, 81, spends the night on a hillside after losing his way at New Territories cemetery

Rescuers send man to North District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries; he ate the offerings for his ancestors to keep going

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The elderly man takes a rest before he is taken to hospital. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Danny Mok

An 81-year-old grave-sweeper was rescued after spending the night in the Fanling countryside after losing his way and feeding off his ancestors’ offerings.

The man with the surname Tsui from Tseung Kwan O was visiting graves in Wo Hop Shek cemetery on Sunday to observe the Ching Ming tradition with his family.

Honouring the dead: Ching Ming Festival begins in Hong Kong

He walked away from the group and tried to find his own “shorter” way up the hill as they approached their ancestors’ grave, but he got lost.

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As he failed to show up, the family made a call to police at about 9pm, prompting a land and air search involving the police, fire services, the Government Flying Service and the Civil Aid Service.

Rescue workers escort the man to North District Hospital. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Rescue workers escort the man to North District Hospital. Photo: SCMP Pictures
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At about 12.40pm – about 27 hours after he went missing – he was spotted in the nearby Wa Mei Shan area.

The man was in good shape, with minor injuries to his head.

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