Lao Cai searches for missing British Fansipan climber

Lao Cai (VNA) – The British tourist who went missing while climbing Fansipan Summit in Lao Cai province a few days ago was still unaccounted for as of 6 p.m. of June 7.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Hinh said that rescuers were working around the clock to search for Aiden Shaw Webb, 23, but they had not found any traces.

Webb and his girlfriend, Blue Bell Eloise Baugham, arrived in Sapa town of the northern province and booked a Quyet Tinh Hotel room on June 2.

In the early morning of the next day, Webb went climbing while his girlfriend stayed at the hotel. He started the journey in Sin Chai hamlet and followed the direction of the cable car system to Fansipan Summit.

His girlfriend said she received the last Facebook message from Webb at about 6 a.m. of June 4, where he said he had sustained injuries to arms and legs.

The last location of Webb as detected on Baugham’s mobile phone was around areas No. 267 and 274 of Sin Chai hamlet in the Hoang Lien National Park.

Shortly after receiving notification of a missing person, police, staff members of the national park and local residents began searching for the British tourist in the last detected location, Hinh said.

On June 6, relevant forces expanded the search area and asked for help from neighbouring Tam Duong and Tan Uyen districts of Lai Chau province.

However, Hinh noted the possible areas where Webb went missing have complex terrain, even canyons, which rescuers had been temporarily unable to access. The rescue force will continue the search at every canyon and cliff.

The path to the 3,143-metre Fansipan Summit, the highest peak in Vietnam, through Sin Chai is said to be very dangerous and not suitable for inexperienced climbers. Tourists who want to reach the peak are suggested to begin at Tram Ton road or use the cable car.-VNA