KUALA LUMPUR – The body of 52-year-old climber Zahalita Othman, who died due to breathing difficulties while climbing Gunung Reskit in Kuala Tahan on February 6, was retrieved this morning.
The Pahang Fire and Rescue Department said Zahalita’s remains were airlifted using a helicopter of the department at about 8.30am before being flown to SMK Clifford in Kuala Lipis at 9.15am.
“Her remains have been handed over to police to be transported to Jerantut Hospital,” the department said in a statement today.
It was reported that Zahalita had been on a mountain-climbing programme since February 1, and she had tragically died on Gunung Reskit.
However, efforts to retrieve her remains were impeded due to bad weather, including heavy rain and thick fog.
This morning, the state’s Fire and Rescue Department resumed the operation to retrieve Zahalita’s body, which was located approximately 4,200ft up the summit of Gunung Reskit.
Based on the initial investigation, she had experienced shortness of breath and was subsequently confirmed to have died while climbing the mountain. – February 8, 2024