bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Iris Jiang

A resourceful hiker in Taiwan has survived 10 days trapped in a ravine, despite being injured, hungry and without a mobile phone.
The 54-year-old, surnamed Zhuang, fell about 10 metres into a gorge on April 12, during a solo hike on Phoenix Mountain in Nantou in central Taiwan.
He injured his right leg and was unable to walk.
Without a phone, he could not even call for help from the isolated location.
But Zhuang did not give up hope. He used his initiative to try and find a way out.

Observing his surroundings, he spotted a pipe supplying water to nearby residents, and a plant known as giant taro, which has thick, sturdy stems and large leaves.
The former plumber had an idea. He cut the water pipe with his Swiss Army knife and blocked it with the taro stem, disrupting the water supply.
Ten days after Zhuang’s fall, villagers realised there was a fault with the water pipe and, while investigating it, they discovered the stranded hiker.
A rescue team from the local fire department took Zhuang down the mountain.
He was conscious with stable vital signs at the time and received treatment for injuries to his right leg and left hip at hospital.
“Awesome. That self-rescue method was incredible. If it were me, I’d just keep drinking water every day. No one would come to rescue me,” one online observer said.
“Heaven, or fate, always leaves a door open. Those who survive great disasters are destined for future blessings,” wrote another.

“This is really smart, really clever,” a third person said.
Hikers are strongly advised not to venture out alone, to always carry communication devices with good signal quality, and to equip themselves with headlamps, warm clothing and rain gear for survival, the local fire department said.
Hikers encountering difficulties often make the headlines.
In 2022, a man in Sichuan province, southwestern China, was stranded in the mountains for 17 days following an earthquake. He survived by drinking moss water and eating wild kiwi fruit, skills he learned from Bear Grylls’ Man vs. Wild survival television show.
In 2018, a Korean woman survived for six days in the Australian wilderness after falling from a steep cliff. She kept warm and dry in her raincoat and eventually managed to signal to a search helicopter.


China woman, 62, gets pregnant through IVF after death of only child, sparking controversy

Hong Kong singer G.E.M. praised for debut sci-fi novel nominated for China Galaxy Award

China police officer praised for mediating dispute among 7 kids as if it were serious case

Meow or never: China’s pudgy pets spark race for weight-loss drugs

Trending in China

Smart Taiwan man trapped in gorge for 10 days, alerts locals by blocking pipe to disrupt water supply, affect rescue

A smart hiker who fell down and was trapped in a gorge in Taiwan found an ingenious method to alert locals and effect his rescue. Photo: SCMP composite/Yahoo/Facebook

The man was trapped in the gorge for 10 days, injured with no mobile phone. Photo: YouTube/@TTV News

After the hiker executed his cunning rescue plan, emergency workers carried him down the mountain. Photo: YouTube/@TTV News

China lawyer who grumbles ‘can’t survive on a salary’ accused over sexy dance live-stream sideline making US$2,800 a month

A lawyer in China who says she cannot survive on her salary has been criticised because she topped up her pay with a sexy online side hustle. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The lawyer said her salary was not enough to survive on in a first-tier city like Shanghai. Photo: Douyin

After her employer intervened the woman’s provocative videos were removed from her social media account. Photo: Douyin

Girl in China dips feet into lake at historic Beijing site, says family is rich so can do as she pleases after warning

An entitled woman tourist has been criticised online for behaving inappropriately at an historic site in China’s capital, Beijing. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Baidu


The woman angered fellow tourists and palace staff alike when she dipped her bare feet into the lake. Photo: Baidu

The Old Summer Palace in Beijing is one of China’s most revered historical sites. Photo: Getty Images 

Brave China ‘cancer warrior’ dies 2 days after 25th birthday, final wish to find brother a girlfriend left unfulfilled

A brave young cancer-suffering woman in China died two days after her 25th birthday but managed to tick off all but one of her bucket list items before she passed away. Photo: SCMP composite/ifeng.com

Liu Yi pledged to fight the “monster” she called cancer despite suffering severe pain. Photo: qq.com

The young woman fulfilled all but one of her dreams before she died, finding her brother a girlfriend. Photo: qq.com

‘Can’t change you’: adult son in China caught peeping into women’s toilet violently slapped by mother during police call-out

An angry mother in China slapped and kicked her adult son after he was caught filming illicitly in a public toilet for women. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The angry mother lashes out at her son during a police interrogation of him at their home. Photo: Baidu

The man is taken away by police and was later placed under administrative detention. Photo: Baidu

China Rolls-Royce seller lets man of modest means live the dream in car showroom, tells him ‘try hard to succeed’

A Rolls-Royce seller in China has allowed a man of modest means to sit inside his favourite luxury car while telling him if he works hard he could own such a vehicle one day. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Salesman Li Zhangchao did everything he could to accommodate the man’s requests. Photo: Douyin

China accounts for a quarter of the global sales of the much sought after Rolls Royce brand. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

Environment

Man falls during solo hike on isolated mountain, suffers debilitating injuries
Has no mobile phone, carries Swiss Army knife, uses initiative to find way out


A lone hiker who tumbled down a mountainside in Taiwan and was unable to move because of his injuries, devised a creative solution to end his plight.


Accidents, extreme weather and disasters in China

Smart Taiwan man trapped in gorge for 10 days, alerts locals by blocking pipe to disrupt water supply, affect rescue

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Man falls during solo hike on isolated mountain, suffers debilitating injuries Has no mobile phone, carries Swiss Army knife, uses initiative to find way out

Man falls during solo hike on isolated mountain, suffers debilitating injuries

Has no mobile phone, carries Swiss Army knife, uses initiative to find way out