TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 44-year-old woman died after falling while rock climbing at Long Dong climbing area in Gongliao District on Saturday during the recent Labor Day holiday.
According to the New Taipei Fire Department, authorities received a report around noon that the woman had fallen approximately 10 meters. Rescue personnel faced a difficult descent down steep terrain into a valley, reaching her nearly an hour later, finding her unconscious and in cardiac arrest with severe head injuries, per CNA.
A helicopter from the National Airborne Service Corps was dispatched to airlift the victim. Police identified the woman by her surname, Tsai (蔡), and said she was born in 1982.
After being moved to a suitable area for the airlift, she was transported to the yacht marina behind Long Dong Bay Ocean Park. She was then taken by ambulance to Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Despite emergency treatment, she was pronounced dead at 3 p.m., hospital officials said.
Ruifang Police Precinct has requested an autopsy to determine the cause of death and will investigate the climbing accident. Officers interviewed those with her to understand the circumstances of the incident, per UDN.
According to the preliminary investigation, Tsai was at the site with her boyfriend and several friends, all equipped with safety gear. The exact cause and sequence of the fall remain under investigation.
Long Dong climbing area is a well-known natural climbing destination in northeastern Taiwan. Its steep coastal terrain and distinctive sandstone formations attract climbers seeking challenging routes. Climbing paths in the area vary in difficulty, making proper equipment, experience, and technique essential to reduce the risk of accidents.
