Man Rescued from Mount Fuji Twice in One Week

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
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Man Rescued from Mount Fuji Twice in One Week

Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato
Climbers gather on the first day of the climbing season at Fuji Yoshidaguchi Trail (Yoshida Route) at the fifth station on the slopes of Mount Fuji, in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan July 1, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato

A man in his 20s was airlifted from Japan's Mount Fuji then rescued again from its steep slopes just days later because he returned to find his phone, according to media reports.

Police told AFP the Chinese university student, who lives in Japan, was found Saturday by another off-season hiker on a trail more than 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) above sea level.

"He was suspected of having altitude sickness and was taken to hospital," a police spokesman in Shizuoka region said on Monday.

Later, officers discovered that the man was the same one who had been rescued on Mount Fuji four days previously, private broadcaster TBS and other media outlets reported.

Police could not immediately confirm the reports, which said the man -- having been rescued by helicopter on Tuesday -- returned on Friday to retrieve his mobile phone, which he forgot to bring with him during the first rescue.

It was not known whether he was able to find his phone in the end, said the reports, citing unnamed sources.

Mount Fuji, an active volcano and Japan's highest peak, is covered in snow for most of the year.

Its hiking trails are open from early July to early September, a period when crowds trudge up the steep, rocky slopes through the night to see the sunrise.

People are dissuaded from hiking outside of the summer season because conditions can be treacherous.

The symmetrical 3,776-meter mountain has been immortalized in countless artworks, including Hokusai's "Great Wave". It last erupted around 300 years ago.

In a bid to prevent overcrowding on Mount Fuji, authorities last year brought in an entry fee and cap on numbers for the most popular Yoshida Trail.

Starting this summer, hikers on any of Mount Fuji's four main trails will be charged an entry fee of 4,000 yen ($27).



Saudi Medical Team Separates Conjoined Twins in Groundbreaking 15-Hour Surgery

The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA
The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA
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Saudi Medical Team Separates Conjoined Twins in Groundbreaking 15-Hour Surgery

The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA
The procedure was carried out by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines. SPA

The medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully separated on Wednesday Eritrean twins Asma and Someya, who were joined at the head, at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh.

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Supervisor General and head of the medical team Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah said the complex procedure, which lasted more than 15 hours, was carried out in adherence to Saudi leadership directives by a dedicated team of 36 consultants and specialists from multiple disciplines.

The team employed neuronavigational technology and surgical microscopy to ensure precise planning and uphold the highest safety standards.

He added that this operation marks the 64th separation performed under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has treated over 149 cases from 27 countries over the past 35 years.

The program continues to receive strong support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Over the years, it has achieved outstanding medical successes, showcasing the advanced capabilities and professionalism of Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector and its medical teams.

Consultant pediatric neurosurgeon and head of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Dr. Moutasem Azzubi explained that the twins underwent a comprehensive evaluation, which revealed the fusion of skull bones, brain membranes, veins, and certain arteries.

The separation was conducted in stages, beginning with an initial surgical procedure followed by three interventional radiology procedures to block shared arteries and veins. The pediatric plastic surgery team inserted tissue expanders under the skin to stretch it over several months and allow sufficient skin coverage after the separation.

The twins' family expressed their sincere gratitude to the Saudi leadership for making this life-saving procedure possible and ensuring their children received the best medical care. They also commended the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts and extended thanks for the generous hospitality they received during their stay in Saudi Arabia.