German tourist dies while hiking in Cameron Highlands

A German tourist, Jorg Habelbusch, 58, lost his life while hiking Mount Jasar in the Cameron Highlands on Tuesday. The incident occurred at around 11:30 am when the tourist and his wife, Marina Dehne, 57, were in the midst of their hike. It was a Pahang Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson, Zulfadli Zakaria, who reported that emergency services arrived at the scene at 12:04 pm.

Due to the steep and challenging terrain, it took firefighters over an hour to reach the location near the peak of the mountain. Upon their arrival, they discovered the victim unconscious in a ravine, which is situated along a previous water channel near the summit. Medical professionals confirmed his demise at the scene.

The rescue operation was a complex one, involving the coordination of police, Civil Defence Force personnel, and officers from the Cameron Highlands Forestry Office. With heavy rain falling, the rescuers had to transport the body down a steep and dangerous slope, a process that lasted nearly three hours.

The couple's hike started at 10 am. In her account, Marina recounted that her husband slipped while stepping onto a slope. His face became buried in the mud, and despite attempts by another hiker to lift him, the rescue was unsuccessful. The couple had only arrived in the Cameron Highlands for a brief three-day holiday the previous day. After the unfortunate event, the body was transported to the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital for a post-mortem examination.