Man dies from mountain sickness after climbing Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu

Datuk Christina Liew, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said the climber was pronounced dead at 4.30 a.m. at the Ranau district hospital on Tuesday and his death was believed to have been caused by acute mountain sickness, Channel News Asia reported.

He was climbing the mountain with his 35-year-old wife on Monday when the latter complained of a headache and breathing difficulties at 9 p.m., according to reports.

The couple, who were not identified, had reached Panalaban, a mid-point rest stop of their climb.

The Mountain Search and Rescue Team gave the wife oxygen and brought her down using a stretcher, before the husband also had breathing difficulties on the way down and was subsequently carried via stretcher, Liew said, as cited in the report.

Both were sent to the district hospital for treatment.

Malaysian authorities advised future climbers to be more prepared mentally and physically before attempting to climb Mount Kinabalu.

Mount Kinabalu is one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. It is also the 20th tallest mountain in the world by topographic prominence and one of the highest peaks in the world that can be easily trekked by most people.