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A woman recently shared her harrowing solo hiking experience on social media after getting lost at Wawasan Hill, located in a forest reserve in Puchong, Selangor
Facebook user Teh Chalk Bee said she was not posting her story for attention or praise, but simply to reflect on her own complacency and to warn others.
"This isn't a heroic tale about survival, but a sincere account of a hard-learned lesson," she wrote.
Teh recounted how she was stranded alone in the forest with no signal, limited phone battery, and minimal hiking experience, before eventually being rescued by firefighters many hours later, thankfully before sunset.
Teh revealed that she was not an avid hiker. In fact, her first hike ever was just the day before, when she went to the same hill with a friend.
Enchanted by the fresh air and forest atmosphere, she decided to return to Wawasan Hill the next day — this time alone.
"Never hike alone," she reminded others in her post, especially first-timers.
"This is a forest, not a park or a gym," she added, admitting that she didn't know better at the time, wearing earphones and listening to a podcast during the hike, not paying full attention to the trail.
About 45 minutes in, she realised she was no longer heading uphill. With no clear signs, she decided to hike down instead.
Roughly 10 minutes later, she came across an older man she referred to as "uncle", the last person she would see before getting lost
Teh asked the uncle if the trail she was on would lead her to the exit. The man nodded, and she continued on, feeling reassured.
But not long after, the trail began to disappear, and she found herself walking into unmarked terrain.
"As a beginner, I wasn't prepared at all. The path was steep and rough. Sometimes I crawled. Sometimes I climbed," she recalled.
Soon, she realised she was completely lost. To make matters worse, her phone had no signal, it began to rain, and the sky grew darker. Panic set in.
"I stopped, closed my eyes, and prayed with all my heart," she wrote.
Around 2pm, she managed to get a weak phone signal and tried calling a friend who lived nearby
The call didn't go through, but she kept trying to send her location via WhatsApp.
At around 3pm, her location finally sent successfully. She was able to speak to her friend for a brief moment to say she was trapped, before losing connectivity again.
Fortunately, her friend understood the urgency and immediately contacted the Fire and Rescue Department, who advised Teh to stay where she was.
Teh also managed to call 999 to report that she was lost in Wawasan Hill. All this happened while her phone battery dropped to 20%.
Image for illustration purposes only.
Image via Ron Lach/PexelsAround 4pm, a fireman contacted her to say they were nearby. He told her to keep calling out loudly so they could locate her.
"At last, four bomba officers found me. One of them was wielding a parang to cut through the forest," she wrote, adding that just as they reached her, her phone finally died.
By the time they emerged from the forest, it was nearly 5pm. She borrowed a phone to inform her family that she was safe.
Teh noted that the firemen told her she wasn't the first person to report encountering and describing the same "uncle" before getting lost — suggesting he might not have been a real person.
However, she decided not to dwell on supernatural speculations.
Teh ended her post by thanking her friend, the firemen, and the spiritual protection she believes helped guide her to safety
She also shared what she had learned from the ordeal:
- Never hike alone
- Don't enter the forest in bad weather
- Don't get distracted (no podcasts or earphones)
- Always be properly equipped:
- Hiking shoes
- Small backpack
- Drinking water and snacks
- Power bank
- Whistle and first aid kit
- Download a navigation app like AllTrails before hiking
Teh also reminded others to always approach nature with humility, preparation, and respect.
