Tra Bong Commune Police received a report on the afternoon of 25/6 regarding An, a resident of Xuan Khuong village, who met with an accident while collecting honey in the Xam Ruc mountain area, bordering Nui Thanh commune, Da Nang city.

Rescuers climbed the ancient tree to find a way to bring An down. Photo: Tra Bong Commune Police

Police and the Commune Military Command mobilized 20 personnel, collaborating with about 10 local residents, to the scene, located approximately 30 km from the commune center. Due to the rugged terrain, rescue teams had to trek for over two hours from the mountain's base to reach the incident site.

At the scene, the victim's body remained suspended on a 40 m tall cho tree, still secured by safety ropes and carrying a backpack. Due to darkness and complex terrain, authorities could not retrieve the body immediately.

This morning, rescue operations resumed. An experienced bee hunter ascended to a higher fork in the tree, attached a new rope to the victim's safety harness, and then cut the old rope. Teams on the ground coordinated to slowly lower the body, using a hammock to carry it out of the forest.

An's body was subsequently handed over to his family for funeral arrangements. Initial investigation indicated the victim died from a stroke while climbing the tree to collect honey.

Honey hunting in deep forests is a dangerous profession with few practitioners. Hunters use safety ropes to ascend ancient trees up to 50 m tall for honey. Despite covering their faces to avoid bee stings, they still face numerous risks, including cramps or accidents while working at height.

Pham Linh