Enviro News Asia, Mataram – A Swiss climber who fell while hiking Mount Rinjani in West Nusa Tenggara was evacuated by helicopter on Wednesday afternoon (July 16, 2025).
The victim is currently being treated at BIMC Hospital in Kuta, Denpasar, Bali.
The accident was reported when officers from the Mount Rinjani National Park Agency (BTNGR) received information at 11:25 AM WITA on Wednesday about a climber involved in an accident on Mount Rinjani, West Nusa Tenggara.
According to initial information from the guide and porter accompanying the climber, the victim was bleeding and suspected to have suffered multiple fractures.
Based on data from the eRinjani application, the victim was registered to begin the climb on July 15, 2025, via the Sembalun trailhead, with booking code ER6DXB5STLQDS under the name Benedikt Emmenegger (46 years old), a Swiss national.
Upon receiving the report, the Mount Rinjani National Park Agency coordinated with the Edelweis Medical Help Center (EMHC) evacuation team.
The EMHC team then began preparing and gathering evacuation equipment and logistics.
At 11:30 AM WITA, the evacuation team established communication with the guide who was assisting the victim to provide initial post-accident handling.
The team also instructed the guide to remain with the victim at the site while awaiting the arrival of the rescue team.
Later, at 11:59 AM WITA, the team received updated information from the guide that another hiker from a different group, who happened to be a doctor, had assessed the victim.
Following the assessment, the doctor recommended an aerial evacuation via helicopter due to concerns that a land evacuation could worsen internal bleeding.
Following coordination between BTNGR and the Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) team, the victim was finally evacuated by helicopter.
Head of the Mataram SAR Office, Muhamad Hariyadi, who served as the SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC), stated that the Bali Air helicopter, dispatched from Bali, successfully landed at 4:44 PM WITA near the Pelawangan trail route in Sembalun, en route to Segara Anak Lake, close to the victim’s location.
The victim was then airlifted by the helicopter to BIMC Hospital in Kuta, Denpasar-Bali for further medical treatment. The climber is now in stable condition and under medical care. (*)
