An Irish tourist somehow survived a 200 meter fall down an Indonesian volcano with only minor injuries.
Paul Farrel, 31, from Sligo, was walking alone on Mount Rinjani in west Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday when he slipped and fell.
He is said to have rolled down the steep path and “fell off a cliff”, but miraculously only suffered minor injuries to his shoulder, according to local media. information.
A rescue team eventually found him in the shadow of a small outcrop with some deep cuts to his face, legs and arms.
After quietly smoking a cigarette and thanking his rescuers, the hiker vowed to be careful and not stray too far from his hotel.
Paul was very grateful to his rescuers, who assessed that he had only suffered minor injuries.
A rescue team eventually found him in the shadow of a small outcrop with some deep gashes.
Paul was pulled to safety using a pulley after being found on Wednesday morning.
General view of a sunrise from Mount Rinjani in Indonesia
Paul called a local resort for help after his fall, who notified police early Wednesday morning.
According to Kompas, a rescue team was present and was already evacuating the body of a man who fell into a nearby ravine.
They reported some difficulties in contacting Paul, hidden in a remote location and with poor signal.
But the Irish tourist was lucky to be found with few injuries after a big fall.
Paul calmly lit a cigarette, relieved that the search team had found him.
He told them: ‘Thank you very much. You guys saved my life. I would never have been able to return without you.
“I’ll stay safe after this and not stray too far from my hotel.”
Footage shows volunteers carrying him to safety using a pulley.
He gave his rescuers a big hug as they carried him back to higher ground.
Iptu Nikolas Osma, head of Public Relations of the East Lombok Police, said: “The victim allegedly slipped because the place is sandy.”
‘The joint search and rescue team managed to evacuate him.
‘According to the results of the medical team’s examination, he only suffered minor injuries to his shoulder.
“His general condition is currently healthy.”
Paul was taken to the Pelawangan emergency shelter for observation.
Paul calmly lit a cigarette, relieved that the search team had found him.
Search and rescue teams observe the place where Paul landed after falling from the volcano
Rescuers were evacuating a nearby body when Paul called for help Wednesday morning.
Rescue efforts were hampered by poor reception from the side of the active volcano
Authorities said the spot where he fell was near the point where the body of a missing Indonesian teenage hiker, 16-year-old Kaifat Rafi Mubarraq, was found.
The young man was reported missing on September 29 after heading to the top of Mount Rinjani. A drone found his body lying in a ravine on October 8.
Mount Rinjani is an active volcano located on the island of Lombok in Indonesia. It is the second highest volcano in the country, with a height of 12,224 feet.
Hikers often traverse the mountain’s dangerous terrain to see the stunning crater lake, Segara Anak, nearby.
Guided tours led by professional hikers typically cost up to $200.
