Thai climber survives on rainwater

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Suffering from burns, cuts and a fractured arm, Thai mountain climber Boonchai Jattupornpong was separated from his companions by heavy rain on the slopes of Mayon volcano, but the downpour also saved his life.

“I gathered rainwater during the night, which helped me survive because I did not have water and food until the rescuers found me,” Boonchai told The STAR. “I am very happy.”

After four days of being carried by rescuers through the slippery slopes of Mayon volcano, Boonchai, 35, finally reached the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) here yesterday afternoon, where he was given local food and purified water.

“Siram,” meaning delicious in Thai, was the first word uttered by Boonchai after eating chunks of Biniribid, a sweet dough made of rice, that a nurse gave him. “Masiram” is also Bicolano for delicious.

In Manila, the remains of four other foreign climbers arrived at the Philippine Airlines Express cargo warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 4 in Pasay City after they were retrieved from the slopes of Mayon.

Officials of the German and Spanish embassies are now processing the transportation of the remains back to Germany and Spain.

Rescuers strapped Boonchai to a spine board and carried him down some 1,200 meters from Camp 2 to Camp 1 at the foot of the volcano in San Roque, Malilipot, Albay.

An emergency landing area was cleared by rescuers above Camp 1, where an Air Force Huey helicopter landed at around 12:35 p.m. and airlifted Boonchai to the Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group headquarters in this City. A waiting ambulance brought him to the hospital.

Boonchai was with the group of Thai mountaineers Udomkiat Taweebhurut, 45; Tanut Ruchipiyrak, 26; Benjama Sansuk, 40, and Nithi Ruangpisit, 26, at Camp 2 when the volcano exploded last Tuesday morning,  spewing hot ash and rocks 500 meters into the air.

The scorching rocks buried German climbers Joanne Edosa, Roland Pietieze and Furian Shelter, Spaniard Farah Frances and local guide Jerome Berin.

Dr. Butch Rivera, BRTTH chief, said Boonchai suffered a fractured right arm and several second degree burns all over his body.

Rivera said it would take at least three to four days before Boonchai could recover from his injuries and fatigue.

Boonchai was happy to learn that his fellow Thais survived although all were injured.

Taweebhurut suffered a fractured left arm and abrasions in the forehead, neck, back and on both knees; Ruckhipiyrak had abrasions in the right elbow and chest; Sansuk had abrasions and multiple blisters while Ruangpisit’s hands itched badly.

Dr. Lauro Verdillo, surgery section chief of the BRTTH, said the heavy build of Boonchai enabled him to withstand the burns and other injuries.

Raffy Alejandro, Bicol director of the Office of Civil Defense, said

a consul from the Thai embassy brought a Thai doctor to this city to check on Boonchai.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the rains on Mayon hampered rescue operations.

Awards for rescuers

A composite disaster team involved in the search, rescue and retrieval operations after the explosion of Mayon volcano was recommended for awards and commendation for their bravery and heroism by the Albay provincial government.

Salceda and Alejandro, chairman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), signed a manifesto following the termination of disaster operation in Mayon yesterday.

Salceda said the composite disaster team, mostly military personnel, deserves a Bronze Cross medal award or its equivalent for exemplary performance following the volcano’s explosion that killed three German and one Spanish mountain climbers and their Filipino guide. With Rudy Santos, Jaime Laude