September 27th, 2014 (around 14:00 hour)
HTOO Foundation’s patron U Tay Za was expecting for the arrival of the Thai B-4 helicopter, which was on a flight to transport the rations for the search and rescue team of the lost two mountaineers at Dahondan village. After the helicopter had flown over Naung Moon town at about 2:00 pm, it lost contact with the base camp at 2:40 pm.
After 2:40 pm onwards
After the B-4 helicopter crash landed, fortunately S.Y Taw Gyi suffered a slight injury, while the Thai Pilot and the Myanmar Pilot were seriously injured. In comparison to others, U Aung Myat Toe suffered the worst and could hardly move. All the communication equipments, which they had brought along with them perished in the crash. On the night of 27th September 2014, it rained very heavily, and all three of them had to spend the night not far from the place of accident. They wrapped themselves with plastic sheets all over their bodies to protect themselves from the severe cold. They seldom slept the whole night.
September 28th, 2014
Although the Thai and Myanmar pilots were injured seriously, they cheered themselves up so much so that they joined S.Y Taw Gyi. They descended from the mountain, paving their way through bushes, shrubs and hedges. S.Y Taw Gyi led the way in search for a route, and then he returned to bring the two pilots at about 10:00 am to a small creek. Hoping to find a village at the end of the creek, the three of them continued walking. They spent the night nearby the creek, where a lot of banana trees grew. S.Y Taw Gyi had to bite off the banana leaves to make a make shift shelter for the two pilots.
September 29th, 2014
In the morning, the injury conditions of Aung Myat Toe worsened and could not continue to walk anymore. Although S.Y Taw Gyi had encouraged him the best and suggested that all three of them walk together, Aung Myat Toe stated that he could not walk anymore, and insisted that they should leave him behind and come back with the rescue team as soon as possible. Therefore, S.Y Taw Gyi assuringly told him that he would bring the rescue team, and left him in a safe cave which was nearby a small stream. S.Y Taw Gyi left all the remaining rations with Aung Myat Toe, and again assured him that he would be come back to his rescue with the rescue team. S.Y Taw Gyi marked the place carefully, in orders not to lose track when he and the search and rescue team came back for Aung Myat Toe.
Then, the Thai pilot and S.Y Taw Gyi started to search for a route by walking along the side of the stream at about 6:30 am in the morning. They faced many difficulties and hardships in ascending the mountain as there were steep gullies, ravines and canyons. First, S.Y Taw Gyi had to search for the right track, and then he returned to fetch for the Thai pilot. Both of them had to spend the night nearby the stream. S.Y Taw Gyi had to bite off the bananas leaves for a makeshift shelter for the two of them as the rain was heavy. They spent the night by sleeping in sitting position just like the birds. They had a bottle of whisky and a bottle of effervescent tablets.
September 30th, 2014
S.Y Taw Gyi and the Thai pilot continued to walk along the stream. Both of them were trying their best to continue the journey for the whole day. In some places, there was no clear route to walk, so they had to ascend the mountain again facing hardships and difficulties. They descended only when they had found the route to continue walking. Since the slopes were very steep, they had no choice but to break the branches of the trees to pave a way. Setting their feet against the trunk of the banana trees, and leaning on the slope, they spent the night.
October 1st, 2014
Again on 1st October 2014, S.Y Taw Gyi led the way and walked along the mountain slopes with the Thai pilot. At about 12:00 noon they reached a hill top. After resting for about 30 minutes and as advised by the Thai pilot, they tried to start a fire as a way of sending a signal to the search and rescue team. Then, they continued walking until they reached a small stream and spent the night there. They tried to start a fire to make themselves warm as the cold was severe. Sad to say, it was unsuccessful. To protect themselves from the severe cold of the night, they covered themselves with branches, twigs and banana leaves.
October 2nd, 2014
In the morning, the Thai pilot said that his injury was painful and S.Y Taw Gyi had to apply some sore medication. The two continued to hike until 1.00 pm, when the Thai pilot said that he could no longer ascend and descend the mountainous trail. Therefore, S.Y Taw Gyi had to think up a way to enable the Thai pilot to continue the journey. By using the dry branches, he was able to help the Thai pilot to cross over to the opposite bank, which was flat land.
Then, they continued to walk along the stream until a steep bank totally blocked their way. Having no other choice, they had to cross the stream again difficultly. After reaching the opposite bank, the Thai pilot became very tired and fatigue, and asked S.Y Taw Gyi to stop and rest for a while. S.Y Taw Gyi went in search of a big tree to spend the night under the shade. After finding one, he came back for the Thai pilot.
October 3rd, 2014
At 6:00 am, the two continued the journey as the Thai pilot hanged on to S.Y Taw Gyi. After three hours, the tired and already fatigue Thai pilot asked for a rest. As S.Y Taw Gyi continued to hike, he fell from a very steep slope. But luckily, he suffered no serve injury. After finding a suitable place for the night, he came back to fetch for the Thai pilot. They spent the night under a bamboo grove, which was one of the several bamboo groves in the flat land. He made a fire which was convenient for them as it was extremely cold.
October 4th
Injury and the mountainous journey really took a toll on the Thai pilot, who become very tired and fatigue. Therefore, with S.Y Taw Gyi lending a helping hand to the Thai pilot, the two started the journey at 6:00 am. On the way, letting the Thai pilot take a rest, S.Y Taw Gyi had to find a possible route to continue the journey. After finding one, it took him two hours to fetch for the Thai pilot as he had lost track. They continued the journey by walking along the stream. Canyons and waterfalls became obstacles for the two to walk further. Therefore, they had to move ahead along the slopes and in the evening, the Thai pilot could no longer stand the rigor of ascent and descent anymore. Therefore, they slept near the stream at night.
October 5th, 2014
They continued the journey by walking along the stream as the ascent and descent was totally difficult. When encountering canyons, ravines, abyss, they had to cross over to the opposite bank in order to continue with the journey. They had to zigzag across the stream 7 times on this day alone and spent the night under the bamboo grove, near the stream.
October 6th, 2014
At 6:00 am, they started their journey by crossing to other the side of the stream. The Thai pilot had to hang on to S.Y Taw Gyi as he could barely move forward. Although words of encouragement were said by S.Y Taw Gyi, it was very obvious that the Thai pilot could not continue the journey, as he kept insisting to be left behind. Having no other option, S.Y Taw Gyi tried to find a convenient and appropriate place for the Thai pilot. Moreover, he bit off the leaves of the banana tree and made a make shift shelter for the Thai pilot, and left him with some water, 2 energizing tablets and the remaining whisky.
S.Y Taw Gyi continued the journey alone as he zigzagged across the stream. Encountering several obstacles, he had to zigzag across the stream forty times, and each time took two to three minutes.
Walking down the stream to continue the journey, he found a bridge. He crossed it and later found a patch of land, presumed to be an old shifting cultivation. Hoping to find some human beings, he shouted at the top of his voice, but got no response. Therefore with no other option left, he continued his journey.
At noon, he found a hut with the door and widows opened. With great joy, he shouted but no human being was to be found. Inside the hut, he saw utensils, five tin full of rice in a bag and a fire place. After several days of rigorous journey, he felt very hungry.
Therefore, an idea which was to take out a tin full of rice and cook it to appease his hunger came to his mind. But the thought and conviction that taking someone’s property in his or her absence to appease his hunger, due to a rigorous journey was unethical eventually prevented him from doing it. Therefore, he left the hut.
Continuing the journey for a half an hour, he encountered canyons, ravines and abyss. For him, the place was totally strange, and remembering the accounts of the old people, he could guess that he was possibly on the passage that led to China. Therefore, he had to retrace to continue his journey. He once again reached the hut, where he had refused to appease his hunger by cooking some rice. He took a short rest, and again he felt hungry overwhelmingly. He took out a tin full of rice and cooked it. But after several days without a meal of rice, he didn’t even have the appetite for more than a spoonful.
The thought of having committed the act of taking somebody’s property in his or her absence filled his heart and mind with remorse. Having the desire of repaying, he took out a five thousand kyat note from his knapsack and put it inside the rice bag.
He continued his journey by retracing, and headed west after crossing the bridge. Hoping to reach a village by dark, he ascended a mountain. Reaching the top at 3.30, with a surging hope of reaching a village after the descent, he rested for half an hour. As he was making the descent, he saw some smoke from a far. He continued his journey for about an hour and met a Rawan tribe man. He told him all with regard to his circumstances. Moreover, he asked him the way to the nearest village, and headed to Lan Hsar Htu village, which was still one mile away.
Tirelessly trudging through the rugged terrain Shwe Yin Taw Gyi arrived Lan Hsar Htu village in the afternoon. Village head of Lan Hsar Htu informed Htoo Foundation's rescue team that Shwe Yin Taw Gyi is in the village.
Patron of Htoo Foundation, U Tay Za, accompanied by members of the rescue team arrived at Lan Hsar Htu in the evening.
Shwe Yin Taw Gyi related a concise account of the incident to U Tay Za thereby initiating the search and rescue operation for the two pilots. Members of Htoo Foundation's rescue team and local villagers set out into the jungle by nightfall. Despite having gone through a strenuous journey through rugged mountain trail for several days, Ko Yin Taw Gyi joined the search and rescue team in search of the two pilots.
8 October 2014
The Thai pilot was found in the morning and thereby rescued. The rescue team resumed its mission to rescue Captain Aung Myat Toe.
9 October 2014
The rescue team relentlessly continued its journey gaining tremendous advances that it covered the distance that took Ko Yin Taw Gyi eight days to travel in just two days. The team arrived at the cave where Captain Aung Myat Toe had stayed behind at 4:00 pm on 9 October 2014. The team members could not find Captain Aung Myat Toe inside the cave, but were overwhelmed by grief to find the lifeless body of Captain Aung Myat Toe at the bottom of the gorge nearby.
Though exhausted from the strenuous journey he had taken, the enfeebled Ko Yin Taw Gyi joined the search and rescue team straightaway on the mission to save the two pilots. Using his every strength remaining, Ko Yin Taw Gyi guided the rescue team through the perilous jungle in the search and rescue mission. He was devastated to see the dead body of Captain Aung Myat Toe.
The sad news was relayed to the wife and the family of Captain Aung Myat Toe who were in Putao, and as desired by the family, the body was cremated at the spot where it was found on 10 October 2014.
11 Ocotber 2014
Arriving back in Yangon in the evening of 11 October, Shwe Yin Taw Gyi underwent medical examination at Victoria Hospital. Results showed that apart from a slight head injury and muscular pain, such internal organs as the heart, kidney and liver showed no indication for concern.
Htoo Foundation pays its respect and tribute to Shwe Yin Taw Gyi who not only participated actively in the search and rescue operation of the two missing mountaineers but also for his all out effort to save the lives of two injured pilots simply out of humanitarianism.
Remark: U Shwe Yin Taw Gyi happened to be the least injury. He suffered a broken rib.
Ref ; +HTOO Foundation
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