French tourist dies on Rwenzori mountain
A French tourist died in the Rwenzori Mountains on Monday. Debrisson de Lorach Patrick Daniel, 32, died at Kitandara, 4,023m up the mountain.
By Anne Mugisa
and Bernard Masereka
A French tourist died in the Rwenzori Mountains on Monday. Debrisson de Lorach Patrick Daniel, 32, died at Kitandara, 4,023m up the mountain.
He fell sick at Elena Hut, just 737m shy of his destination, the highest peak, Margherita. The hut is 4,372m up the mountain.
“He started complaining of feeling sick at Bujuku before Elena Hut. We advised him to go back but he refused, saying he would be okay,†his guide Xevier Bonabana said.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the guide and the porters decided not to take Debrisson higher.
The tourist started climbing the mountain on Tuesday last week in Kasese at Nyakalengijo.
UWA public relations manager Lillian Nsubuga said the team descended the mountain but on reaching Kitandara, the tourist could not proceed.
She said the guide called in the UWA rescue team to offer first aid but the tourist died before they could carry him down.
The Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS), which runs business in central Rwenzori, sent a team of more than 80 people to retrieve the body from the jungles.
“We had received information that Debrisson was sick and we sent a rescue team and a doctor to help him move down. Unfortunately he died shortly after the team reached him,†Limbali.
He said the cause of the death would be ascertained after a postmortem examination.
Nsubuga said UWA notified the French Embassy and that the body was to be handed over to its officials who were already in Kasese.
By yesterday afternoon, the body was still at Kilembe mines hospital mortuary after being brought out of the jungle on Tuesday night.
Documents obtained by the Police from the deceased’s bag showed that he was working in China.
Nsubuga explained that before tourists are allowed to climb the mountain, UWA demands a health report. She said Debrisson had not reported any health problems.
His death brings the toll to six climbers since 1970. They include two guides. One of them, Charles Martin, died in February this year.
Nsubuga said since 2001, the number of climbers had gone up. Climbing was suspended in 1998 because of the ADF rebels. She said last year, 1,230 tourists visited the area.
One elder from the area, Isaya Mwiraghulhu, 70, attributed the deaths to angry ancestral spirits.
“We must do something to appease the spirits of the mountain.â€
Mwiraghulhu said UWA should involve the local people and respect the culture of the mountain community to avert more deaths.
and Bernard Masereka
A French tourist died in the Rwenzori Mountains on Monday. Debrisson de Lorach Patrick Daniel, 32, died at Kitandara, 4,023m up the mountain.
He fell sick at Elena Hut, just 737m shy of his destination, the highest peak, Margherita. The hut is 4,372m up the mountain.
“He started complaining of feeling sick at Bujuku before Elena Hut. We advised him to go back but he refused, saying he would be okay,†his guide Xevier Bonabana said.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the guide and the porters decided not to take Debrisson higher.
The tourist started climbing the mountain on Tuesday last week in Kasese at Nyakalengijo.
UWA public relations manager Lillian Nsubuga said the team descended the mountain but on reaching Kitandara, the tourist could not proceed.
She said the guide called in the UWA rescue team to offer first aid but the tourist died before they could carry him down.
The Rwenzori Mountaineering Services (RMS), which runs business in central Rwenzori, sent a team of more than 80 people to retrieve the body from the jungles.
“We had received information that Debrisson was sick and we sent a rescue team and a doctor to help him move down. Unfortunately he died shortly after the team reached him,†Limbali.
He said the cause of the death would be ascertained after a postmortem examination.
Nsubuga said UWA notified the French Embassy and that the body was to be handed over to its officials who were already in Kasese.
By yesterday afternoon, the body was still at Kilembe mines hospital mortuary after being brought out of the jungle on Tuesday night.
Documents obtained by the Police from the deceased’s bag showed that he was working in China.
Nsubuga explained that before tourists are allowed to climb the mountain, UWA demands a health report. She said Debrisson had not reported any health problems.
His death brings the toll to six climbers since 1970. They include two guides. One of them, Charles Martin, died in February this year.
Nsubuga said since 2001, the number of climbers had gone up. Climbing was suspended in 1998 because of the ADF rebels. She said last year, 1,230 tourists visited the area.
One elder from the area, Isaya Mwiraghulhu, 70, attributed the deaths to angry ancestral spirits.
“We must do something to appease the spirits of the mountain.â€
Mwiraghulhu said UWA should involve the local people and respect the culture of the mountain community to avert more deaths.