Hiker falls to her death in Oman

Muscat: A woman in her 40s fell to her death from a height at Jebel Wadi Shab in Sur province on Sunday, according to an official at the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).

“The woman was on a trip in the wadi along with her friend. She slipped while trying to climb the mountain and fell 150 metres down,” said the official.

He said due to the rugged area the police had to employ a helicopter to airlift the body to a nearby hospital. The body was handed to Police Hospital in preparation for repatriation.

It was the first such incident in the country this year.

In September, 2015, a British national of Pakistani origin died of heat exposure and dehydration while hiking on an Omani mountainside along the UAE border.

UAE resident Bushra Farooqui succumbed to the elements after she inexplicably broke away from her 12-member hiking party and could not be located by Omani search and rescue parties. Bushra and her party were hiking in the Wadi Al Sameenah mountain of Mahda province.

An official at the Ministry of Tourism told Gulf News on Monday, that free guidance books and brochures are offered to tourists to guide them on hiking and trekking spots in Oman with routes. The official called on tourists to abide by the rules for the sake of their own safety.

Naser Al Hatali, a trekking expert, told Gulf News that knowing the trekking route is a must before going.

They should stock up on enough water and food, should have a trekking shoes and a phone for help, he added.