Malaysian climber Wui Kin Chin is currently in serious condition in Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu. Kin Chin was at high altitude on Annapurna without supplementary oxygen, food or water for over 40 hours.
Wui Kin Chin, pictured lying on the snow, was found at 7,500m on Annapurna. Photo: Mingma David Sherpa
The 49-year-old Malaysian disappeared during his descent from the summit on April 23. He went missing somewhere below the French Couloir at 7,750m on Tuesday evening, but it is not known why his climbing guide or fellow climbers seemingly abandoned him.
Wui Kin Chin receives attention at Annapurna Base Camp. The Malaysian climber is reportedly in critical condition. Photo: Dawa Sherpa
During an initial aerial search on April 25, Kin Chin was seen waving at the helicopter crew at 08:00. A rescue team consisting of Nirmal Purja, Mingma David Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa and Gesman Tamang were then dropped at Camp 3 (6,500m) by longline. After five hours of climbing, they located Kin Chin at 17:30 local time at 7,500m.
“The rescue was difficult,” said Nirmal Purja. “The wind was picking up making the going and conditions harder. Chin was incredibly tired. As were we, after summiting 36 hours previously.”
The rescue team at Camp 3 on Annapurna. Photo: Mingma David Sherpa
Kin Chin was lowered down to Camp 3 (6,500m) late last night to await helicopter evacuation. The Malaysian’s condition deteriorated before he was evacuated by longline at 09:00 this morning, after three failed attempts at a pick-up.
Captain Bibek Khadka, left, one of the two Simirik Air pilots who dropped the rescue team at Camp 3 yesterday afternoon. Photo: Mingma Sherpa
Bureaucratic issues delayed Kin Chin’s rescue.
Correction: May 1, 2019 An earlier version of this article stated “His insurance company, Global Rescue, initially refused to authorize a search until his wife intervened, and Simirk Air was chartered.” We have removed this sentence as it was deemed to be incorrect in light of further information. An in-depth treatment of the facts can be found in a later article here.
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Ash Routen
Ash is a postdoctoral scientist, globally published outdoor writer and arctic traveller. Ash's next expedition is a 700km trek along the coast of Baffin Island in 2020.
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14 Comments on "Abandoned Malaysian Climber in Critical Condition in Hospital"
1.) Could you please delete this video from this article in respect of the privacy of Wui Kin Chin and his family.
2.) Could you please ask the question why a climber has been left alone right on the route at 7750m on a guided, commercial expedition with a support level of 17 sherpas for 15 members, because „he was too exhausted to go down“ as their operator said?
The video is reporting. Same as CNN taping a fire rescue. It is appropriate.
Imagine it’s your sun / husband / father. It’s absolutely inappropriate. No matter if you can see his face or not. It’s for the sheer sensation.
Thank you Explorersweb for removing it.
Stop cherry picking it’s appropriate, if you don’t want it you shouldn’t be on the frigging mountain!
I would like to know more about why Global Rescue declined to help before the intervention.
Do some google research about insurance fraud in in Nepal and the involved operators and you will find out.
I have heard mixed reviews on global rescue. I need reliable evac insurance for the SouthPole if anyone has recommendations 89 south to 90 south
Don’t go if you think you might need rescue
It is disgusting to learn of the delay to order a search by the Global Rescue till the climber’s wife intervened.
It’s important that people familiarise themselves with the rescue membership that the climber purchased, before mis-targeting them as the cause of delays. Global Rescue does not offer search and rescue insurance. It offers medical transport from a known location to a safe medical facility. It may be that this climber did not have search and rescue insurance.
Thanks Alex. This article was based on the limited information we had access to at the time. We are preparing a more in-depth piece on this issue, with input from Global Rescue, climbers who were on the mountain at the time, and a pilot with significant Himalayan flying experience.
Abandoned is a word chosen by GR. It is a very loaded choice of phrase and it implies a great deal of things without verification. It also seems that the account of GR who were not on the scene is preferred over and above the people on the ground including Nirmal Purja MBE who is not a Sherpa and independent of all parties pointing fingers at one another.