A 62-year-old mountain climber has died on Mount Semeru – the highest mountain on East Java – before he could finish a climb with a large hiking group.
Prasetyo Tjondro, an American-Indonesian, was visiting the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park last Sunday, May 19, with a group of 21 people who went to climb the mountain, which is 3,676 meters high, The Jakarta Post reported.
National park head John Kenedie said Tjondro was still at the Ranu Kumbolo campsite when he complained about a stomach ache at around 11pm on May 18.
The coordinators of the hiking group then called the mountain’s climbing entrance post, Ranupani, for help.
However, at around 12.30am on May 19, Tjondro had already passed away. His remains were taken to Lumajang Hospital.
Initially, an autopsy was to be conducted but the Post said this was rejected by the victim’s wife, who had pointed out that it was unnecessary as she had already accepted the passing of her spouse.