The UK man who was lost on La Soufriere volcano since Wednesday was found on Friday, shortly after news broke that he was missing.
iWitness News was reliably informed that the 49-year-old man was found by a resident of Rose Hall, a community in western St. Vincent and was “in good condition”.
Sources in the know told iWitness News that the man’s hotel had “strongly warned” him against going to hike the volcano without a guide.
One source said that the man had sent his location to someone at his hotel later on Wednesday, saying that he was lost and his phone battery was about to die.
Since then, the hotel, police and other agencies had been working quietly to locate the man.
However, one source told iWitness News of the development on Friday morning.
The man has attempted to climb the volcano from its western flank, which is steeper and has a less clearly defined trail than the eastern slope.
The 1,234 metre (4,048) feet high volcano last erupted in 2021 and mudflows along its slopes have resulted in an especially steep and uneven terrain.
The slopes of the volcano have several very deep gorges and people who have climbed it since the eruption have noted the fall risks along the trail.
On Sept. 15, 2022, Alicia Zebutis, 24, of Chicago, Illinois in the United States, fell ill and later died while hiking La Soufriere volcano.
Zebutis and her husband — whose name police did not disclose — along with a group of friends had gone hiking the volcano when police received a call around 4 p.m., saying that a member of the group had collapsed and was in urgent need of medical attention.
Zebutis was transported to the Georgetown Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Watch below a video of the challenges iWitness News’ Kenton Chance encountered when he and other hikers made an unplanned descent into the crater of La Soufriere on Sept. 7, 2024.
Watch below a video of the challenges iWitness News’ Kenton Chance encountered when he and other hikers made an unplanned descent into the crater of La Soufriere on Sept. 7, 2024.
Stay in side day 😂
Thank God he was found. The western side of La Soufriere is indeed steeper than the eastern side. It is even more difficult since 2021. No one should attempt to climb the volcano on their own.