TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 50-year-old Australian man was rescued Friday after surviving seven days trapped in Taiwan’s Coastal Mountain Range in Taitung County without food, shoes, or electronic devices, relying on rainwater and shelter in a cliffside cave to stay alive.
Rescue crews spent four days searching before bringing him down the mountain at around 11 a.m., per UDN. Authorities said he was in stable condition and had not suffered major injuries.
"It's a miracle! Thank you! Thank you, everyone! Thank you, Taiwan!" Matthew told rescuers after being freed, according to UDN. He said he survived by relying on instinct to locate water after becoming stranded in the mountains for a week without supplies.
Matthew said he climbed down into a valley searching for water after becoming thirsty. When he tried to return, he found the original route too steep and high to climb back up, leaving him trapped near the cave.
Rescuers said continuous rainfall in recent days became critical to his survival by providing drinking water. The cave also offered natural protection from the elements, helping him avoid hypothermia.
Matthew’s friend and pastor, Kao Yung-hsu (高永旭), said he remains physically fit despite being 50 years old and is well known for volunteer work, UDN reported. He previously joined disaster recovery efforts in Taoyuan Village in Taitung County’s Yanping Township after typhoon damage and also traveled to Hualien to assist with rescue operations.
Kao said Matthew often hikes alone to relax and has a highly independent personality. He added that when rescuers neared the cave, Matthew played the saxophone he had brought with him so teams could locate him by sound, “like blowing a whistle.”
Matthew went hiking alone in the Coastal Mountain Range last Saturday, wearing light clothing, but failed to return home. Friends and relatives reported him missing the following day, prompting rescuers to launch a mountain search operation Monday after locating his parked scooter.
Firefighters eventually spotted Matthew inside a cave near a cliff using drones during the search, UDN reported. However, the terrain was too steep and narrow for a helicopter extraction, forcing rescue teams to continue on foot.
Two rescue teams camped overnight in the mountains because of the dangerous rock walls surrounding the cave. They made contact with Matthew on Thursday morning and, after confirming he was in stable condition, safely escorted him down the mountain Friday.
