18-year-old British tourist lost in the forest sends thank you letter to rescue team

Vị trí du khách Anh bị lạc - Ảnh: Công an cung cấp — Location of lost British tourist - Photo: Provided by police

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online on the evening of April 20, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Khang, deputy head of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Lai Chau Provincial Police, said that at around 11:30 p.m. last night, the unit received a phone call from tourist Henwood Josheph Thomas (18 years old, British nationality) saying he was disoriented, lost in Hoang Lien forest and needed help to get out of the forest.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Khang, immediately after receiving a call for assistance from a British tourist, Lai Chau Provincial Police coordinated with Lao Cai Provincial Police to use professional measures to locate the lost tourist's GPS location.

At the same time, coordinate with officers of Hoang Lien National Forest Management Board to determine the location on the field map.

After determining the location of the British tourist lost about 1km from National Highway 4D as the crow flies, the Lai Chau Provincial Police, Lao Cai Provincial Police, Hoang Lien National Park... divided into groups to search Hoang Lien forest that night.

"We searched using many methods all night long. However, due to the darkness, rugged terrain, and almost no signal in this area, the search was fruitless.

"By early morning, the tourist had reached the edge of the forest, so he had a phone signal and texted the tourism force of Hoang Lien National Park. From the location the tourist texted, the rescue force found the tourist at the edge of the forest at the top of O Quy Ho pass," Lieutenant Colonel Khang shared.

Du khách Anh trao đổi với lực lượng công an sau khi được tìm thấy - Ảnh: Công an tỉnh Lai Châu — British tourist talks with police after being found - Photo: Lai Chau Provincial Police

According to Lai Chau Provincial Police, when found, Mr. Thomas appeared tired and had many small scratches on his body.

Rescue forces immediately provided drinks, food, and encouraged tourists to stabilize their spirits.

Through questioning, Thomas said he came to Vietnam to travel alone, entered Hoang Lien National Park to explore from 8:00 a.m. on April 19, and at around 11:30 p.m. the same day, he got lost and disoriented.

Afterwards, the British tourist was taken by authorities to a hotel in Sa Pa town to rest.

"I'm so scared"

After being helped out of the forest, knowing that many people had spent the night searching for him, Mr. Thomas wrote a letter of thanks to the police officers of Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces and those who participated in the rescue.

In his thank you letter, Thomas said that on April 19, he had an experience trip to Hoang Lien forest and then got lost in Son Binh commune (Tam Duong district) and could not find his way back.

"It was dark at that time, I was very scared and tried to contact the forces of Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces for help. During the contact process, I was guided enthusiastically by the police force and sent people to assist in the search.

When it was light, I was found by the rescue team and they took me to Sa Pa for first aid.

I would like to send my most sincere thanks to the police officers of Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces and the rescuers who spent the whole night searching for me" - Thomas wrote.

As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , at around 11:30 p.m. on April 19, Lai Chau Provincial Police received a report that a British tourist was lost in Hoang Lien National Park, on the border between Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces.

Realizing that this is a dense forest area with complex terrain and thunderstorms, it is necessary to race against time and seize the "golden time" to rescue the victims. The director of Lai Chau Provincial Police has directed the Technical Department to check and determine the location of the tourists.

Direct the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department to establish a special rescue team led by Lieutenant Colonel Khang and 19 officers and soldiers.

At the same time, Tam Duong District Police and Son Binh Commune Police sent 32 officers, soldiers and commune medical staff to coordinate with Lao Cai Province's functional forces to search and rescue victims overnight.

At 8:00 a.m. this morning, rescue forces found a lost tourist at the edge of the forest at the top of O Quy Ho pass (Son Binh commune, Tam Duong district).

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