Monday, January 28, 2008

Stranded mountaineers rescued in Quezon

(UPDATE) Stranded mountaineers rescued in Quezon

Sixteen mountaineers stranded in Mt. Cristobal in Dolores, Quezon have been rescued by the Air Force's 505th Search and Rescue Group, ABS-CBN News reported Sunday.

The mountaineers, some of whom came from the Pencil Advertising Group, were stranded near the summit of Mt. Cristobal since Saturday, correspondent Ron Gagalac reported.

Two of the mountaineers identified as Sonny Angeles and Eric Sanchez sustained major injuries and were the first ones airlifted to the military's Southern Luzon Command headquarters in Lucena City.

Angeles had a broken knee while Sanchez suffered a shoulder fracture.

The remaining 14 mountaineers were airlifted in the second chopper to an Air Force camp in Candelaria in Candelaria town. They were being treated by Red Cross medical technicians as of this posting and are scheduled to leave for Manila afterwards.

The Pencil mountaineers were identified as Michael Nisperos, Lan Vilmonte, Oliver John Gomez, Jesus Valmonte, Tady Diaz and Reg Romanilios.

Aside from Angeles and Sanchez, the other injured mountaineers were named as Sam Kabiling, Jeremy Reyes, Teri Binambang, Jean Aparis, Alex Madrona, Coy Roxas, Jaime Magpayo and Arnold Garchitorena.

Officials said the rescue mission was made difficult by the zero visibility and strong winds near the mountain's summit.

The mountaineers said they took the wrong path in ascending the mountain. They said that the path was the one usually used by trekkers in descending from the peak.

Red Cross officials added that the wrong path used was the reason why the mountaineers were stranded.