Dutch canyoneer rescued after hard fall in eastern Taiwan

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) A Dutch man who suffered a hard fall while canyoneering in eastern Taiwan's Taitung County has been rescued and airlifted off the mountain for medical treatment, according to local officials.

The man injured his waist and was unable to move, but his condition was not life-threatening, the Taitung County Fire Department said on Saturday, after deploying helicopters for the rescue.

The man had been canyoneering with an Australian man and woman at a river beside Yanping Forest Road. The three are experienced canyoneers, and the accident occurred when a man-made anchor came loose, according to the fire department.

The other two were not injured and stayed with the Dutch man.

The department was alerted to the incident by the Dutch man's family, who contacted authorities from overseas after he activated his personal locator beacon. The group did not carry any other communication devices, according to the fire department.

A helicopter was dispatched and located the trio around 6 p.m. on Friday, but it had to return to base due to low fuel.

Only the woman, who had walked to a nearby open area, was initially hoisted to safety by a second helicopter, as dense foliage that partially obscured the site complicated efforts to airlift the Dutch man.

The Australian man thus remained behind to care for him, the fire department said.

A ground rescue team of about 10 people set out early Saturday, provided preliminary treatment to the Dutch man, and assisted with the airlift of him and the Australian man.

As of 10 a.m. Saturday, both men had been evacuated from the mountainous area and transported to Taitung MacKay Memorial Hospital, the department said.