A 27 year old university student was rescued twice from the slopes of Mount Fuji within a week, after returning to retrieve his lost mobile phone, Japanese authorities confirmed on Monday.
The climber, a Chinese national living in Japan, was first airlifted from the 3,776-metre (12,388-foot) peak last week during an off-season ascent. Just four days later, he returned to the mountain, hoping to recover his phone and other belongings left behind during the initial rescue, according to Japanese media reports.
On Saturday, another climber found the man at an altitude of over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet), showing signs of altitude sickness. He was promptly taken to a hospital, police said.
Authorities soon realized he was the same individual rescued earlier in the week, the broadcaster TBS reported. It remains unclear whether he successfully retrieved his lost phone.
The incident highlights the risks posed by Mount Fuji’s steep and often treacherous slopes, especially for inexperienced climbers attempting off-season hikes. Officials routinely warn against ascending the mountain outside the official climbing season, when snow and rapidly changing weather conditions can make the trails dangerous.
Mount Fuji, an active volcano that last erupted in 1707, is typically accessible to hikers only between early July and early September. During this period, thousands of tourists and locals climb the mountain, many aiming to witness the sunrise from the summit.
To manage the influx of visitors, local authorities introduced a cap on daily hikers along the most popular trail last year. Starting this summer, climbers on Fuji’s four main trails will also be required to pay a 4,000 yen ($28/£21) fee to help preserve the environment and ensure safety.
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