Belgian backpacker missing in Yunnan since March 26. Rescuer Chen Yanshou died at 4,300m on April 20 during search. Search suspended as of April 21.
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Chinese Rescuer Died in Search for Missing Foreign Backpacker in Yunnan
Yunnan is often the first place we think of when we need an escape from the city heat—it’s rugged, beautiful, and holds a special place in the hearts of the international community here. But recently, the trekking trails of Shangri-La have become the setting for a dual tragedy that serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly the mountains can turn.
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A massive search effort for a missing 28-year-old Belgian traveler has taken a heartbreaking turn, not just because of the missing hiker, but because of the loss of a local hero who went in to find him.
The story began back on March 26. Hugo, a young man from Namur, Belgium, was nearing the end of a grand six-month "Asian backpacking tour" that had already taken him through Russia and Mongolia. He had visited China before and loved it so much that he decided to make it his final stop before heading home. He was staying at an inn in Sanba Township, and around 11:00 AM that morning, he headed out with his gear. He was dressed in grey hiking clothes and carrying a backpack with a bright green rain cover, aiming to trek through the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Hugo was the kind of traveler who stayed in touch, usually calling his family once or twice a week. When the calls stopped, his family initially hoped it was just a dead battery or poor signal in the deep canyons. However, when April 1 arrived and Hugo never walked through the gates at Brussels Airport, panic set in. Investigations later confirmed he never even checked in for his flight. He had vanished somewhere between the inn and the treacherous, windswept slopes of the gorge.
In response, rescue teams mobilized, including the dedicated volunteers of the Ruili Blue Sky Rescue Team. Among them was 37-year-old Chen Yanshou. Now, Chen wasn't just a casual volunteer; he was the Deputy Captain and a man who had dedicated over 5,000 hours to helping others since 2019.
On the morning of April 20, the mission took a tragic toll. Chen was stationed at the Haba Snow Mountain base camp, an exhausting 4,300 meters above sea level, when he suffered a sudden and severe medical emergency at around 4:00 AM. His teammates acted instantly, providing oxygen and performing continuous CPR and artificial respiration. They fought for an hour to save one of their own, but by 5:00 AM, Chen Yanshou had passed away.
The Ruili Blue Sky Rescue Team shared the news on April 21, expressing profound grief as they activated their highest level of emergency response to support Chen’s family.
Vice Captain Liu of the Ruili Blue Sky Rescue Team recently clarified that Hugo still hasn’t been found, and it’s not even certain if he actually entered the Haba Snow Mountain area. Because the region is so vast, they can only treat his location as "suspected" for now. As of April 21, the search has been temporarily suspended, and the rescue team is on standby, waiting for further instructions.
While the fate of the young hiker remains unknown in the vastness of the Yunnan wilderness, the community is left mourning a man who spent his final hours at 4,300 meters, trying to bring a fellow traveler home.
Source: 都市报道, 新闻坊
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