Missing hiker found alive holding girlfriend's body after 47 days
A Taiwanese trekker missing for 47 days in Nepal’s remote Himalaya mountains has been found alive, but his girlfriend who accompanied him died just three days before he was rescued.
Liang Sheng-yueh, 21, and his girlfriend Liu Chen-chun, 18, had been missing since March 10.
The two had set out on March 8 to trek through the Dhading region’s Tipling and Pangsang Pass and went against advice from their tour agency by not employing a local guide.
According to the Himalayan Times, Liang and Liu became “trapped on a precipice” after heavy snowfall hit the region.
On Wednesday morning a rescue team spotted the pair and airlifted Liang out of a ravine near the Narchet River, along with Lui’s body.
"In our heads, we never thought they would be alive,” rescuer Madhav Basnet said.
Doctors said Liang had lost 30 kilograms since going missing more than a month ago, and was found with maggots infesting his foot.
“He was suffering from severe malnutrition. His foot was covered with maggots and hair full of lice,” Dr Ajay Singh told CBS.
"Despite having to live like that for 47 days, he appears to be mostly normal."
It is believed that the couple survived by eating snow and salt after their food ran out.
