National
Taiwanese survivor celebrates birthday in hospital bed
Liang Sheng-yueh, who was rescued after 49 days of missing in upper Dhading, celebrated his 22nd birthday at Grande Hospital in Dhapasi on Friday.Anup Ojha
Liang Sheng-yueh, who was rescued after 49 days of missing in upper Dhading, celebrated his 22nd birthday at Grande Hospital in Dhapasi on Friday.
“I’m very happy, now I can see everyone,” said Liang, who was surrounded by national and international journalists, hospital doctors, members of the rescue team and government officials. He looked jolly in a birthday hat, cutting a cheese and chocolate cake. However, his parents were unable to join the celebration due to flight delays.
Liang was rescued from a small cave in Tepling village, where he and his friend had taken shelter after they slid off a slippery trail while making an ascent towards Ghatlang.
According to Dawa Singh Tamang, who first spotted Liang, his girlfriend Liu Chen-chun had died four days before he was rescued. The survivor was airlifted to Kathmandu on Wednesday.
Tamang had served him noodles, as his house is a 25 minute walk from the cave. “When I approached the edge of the cave, he suddenly took his head out of the tent and said Namaskar,” said Lama, who later conveyed the message to other rescuers.
Talking in his mother tongue, Liang said, “Once I am fine, I will get back to my country and do well for my society.” However, he has not given up his passion for hiking and love for mountains, he said.
Liang and his girlfriend studied arts at the National Taiwan University.
The couple had left for Langtang in Rasuwa district in the first week of March. After heavy snowfall on March 10 and 11, they were out of contact as they were not using a guide or porter.
“Before they went missing, they stayed in our village, and enjoyed our culture. They even participated in a cultural programme,” said Tamang, who is also a Nepali Congress leader.
Orthopaedic doctor Chakra Raj Pandey, who has been looking after Liang, said he is out of danger and has started to walk.
“It’s amazing that, when he was rescued, I found him well composed and with balanced emotion,” said Dr Pandey. When Liang was admitted, doctors found maggots between his toes and lice in his hair. Doctors say he looked very tired and had lost 30kgs. “Now he eats well,” said Dr Pandey, adding that the hospital was helping him rehabilitate physically and mentally.
Parshuram Tamang, minister of state for culture, tourism and civil aviation, said at the programme that he would work to improve the trekking route.