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| Real-Life Emergency on Mount Rinjani: Swiss Climber Suffers Major Injuries, Helicopter Evacuation Initiated. |
Mount Rinjani, one of Indonesia’s most iconic hiking destinations, was the site of a serious incident on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. At approximately 11:25 AM WITA, the Mount Rinjani National Park Authority (BTNGR) received an emergency report about a foreign hiker who had been injured roughly 25 minutes before reaching the Iron Bridge on the way to Lake Segara Anak.
According to the initial report from the guide and porter accompanying the hiker, the victim was bleeding and suspected to have multiple bone fractures.
The victim was identified as Benedikt Emmenegger, a 46-year-old man from Switzerland. He was officially registered via the eRinjani app and had begun his hike on July 15, 2025, through the Sembalun trail under booking code ER6DXB5STLQDS.
Rapid Response from Rescue Teams
Upon receiving the report, BTNGR quickly coordinated with the Edelweis Medical Help Center (EMHC) to prepare rescue gear and supplies. By 11:30 AM WITA, the evacuation team had established communication with the guide to provide initial first aid instructions and requested that they remain by the victim's side until help arrived.
At 11:59 AM WITA, the situation became more critical. Another hiker, who turned out to be a medical doctor, examined the injured man and advised that an air evacuation was necessary. The doctor expressed concerns that a ground rescue could worsen the injuries, especially if internal bleeding was involved.
Request for Air Rescue Coordination
At 12:15 PM WITA, BTNGR contacted the Operations Section Chief at the Mataram Search and Rescue (SAR) Office to request an aerial evacuation. The SAR office immediately deployed personnel from the Kayangan SAR Post to Sembalun. Simultaneously, EMHC medical teams and Rinjani Squad members from Post 2 moved toward the accident site.
Meanwhile, a separate team from BTNGR coordinated directly with the Head of Mataram SAR to further assess the possibility and logistics of deploying a helicopter for the rescue.
Helicopter Assessment and Weather Concerns
By 1:51 PM WITA, BTNGR was in direct contact with Bali Air, the helicopter operator. The helicopter crew requested video footage of the terrain surrounding the victim’s location to assess whether a safe landing was possible.
At 3:00 PM WITA, the helicopter was cleared for deployment, pending stable weather conditions. Should the air evacuation proceed successfully, the injured hiker would be flown directly to Nusa Medica Hospital in Bali. The hiker’s personal insurance provider had also been in contact with the hospital to make the necessary arrangements.
As of the latest update, the evacuation operation is still underway with close monitoring of weather and terrain conditions. Any new developments will be announced through an official press release by the Ministry of Forestry.
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