A Casual Walk That Went Wrong
What began as a spontaneous afternoon hike nearly ended in disaster for Teh Chalk Bee, who became lost in the Bukit Wawasan forest reserve in Selangor on 29 July. The solo trekker set off around 12:30 PM with no water, no food, minimal gear, and a phone running low on battery.
Recent rainfall had left the trail slippery, but she pressed on, earphones in and podcast playing — undeterred by warnings of bad weather and her lack of experience.
An Encounter Before Disappearing From the Trail
About 45 minutes into the hike, she noticed the path was descending before she had even reached the summit.
Choosing to continue downhill, she met a middle-aged man and asked if the route led out of the forest. He nodded without speaking — the last person she would see before losing the marked trail entirely.
Venturing onto a steep, muddy slope, Teh slipped and crawled her way through thick vegetation until the path vanished altogether.
Lost, Disconnected, and Running Out of Power
With no mobile signal and growing panic, she remembered that water sources often lead to civilisation. Following a stream downhill only led her into a swamp, forcing her to climb back uphill. Eventually, a weak signal returned and, after several failed attempts, she managed to send her location via WhatsApp at 2:58 PM to a friend, who alerted the fire department.
Her battery had dropped to 20%, and rescuers urged her to remain where she was until help arrived.
Found Just in Time
By 4 PM, officers were able to reach her by phone and told her to shout so they could locate her. She screamed into the forest until their voices called back. Moments after her phone died, four firefighters appeared, cutting through dense foliage to reach her nearly a kilometre off the main trail.
She was escorted down the mountain and exited through the backyard of a nearby bungalow around 4:50 PM, where her brother, police officers, and a fire truck awaited.
Lessons for Future Hikers
Shaken but safe, Teh admitted her mistakes — hiking alone, ignoring weather conditions, and treating the trek like a simple workout. She urged others to carry essentials such as water, a whistle, a power bank, and a map.
Authorities reiterated warnings to stick to official trails at Bukit Wawasan, avoid illegal paths such as the “Blue Lagoon” route, and always complete hikes before nightfall. The Wawasan Forest Community Society also advises bringing walking sticks and staying clear of areas not approved by the Selangor Forestry Department.
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