57-Year-Old OKU Is Malaysia’s First Climber To Summit K2, The Second-Highest Mountain on Earth
In true Malaysia Boleh spirit, Ravichandran has also set foot on Mount Everest three times.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
No excuses exist for not climbing mountains, as proven by a disabled person (OKU) solo climber, T Ravichandran.
The 57-year-old became the first Malaysian climber to successfully conquer the second highest mountain in the world, K2.
Located in Pakistan, K2 stands at 8,611 meters, roughly 250 metres shy world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, with a height of 8,848 meters.
Previously, Ravichandran had made history when he successfully set foot on Everest for the third time on 12 May after 2006 and 2007.
In a statement on Sunday, Ravichandran expressed happiness and pride over the achievement.
I managed to fly the Jalur Gemilang at the top of K2. A sign of the spirit of independence that Malaysians should not forget next August 31.
Mountain climber T Ravichandran on his latest feat.
He hopes his success will help foster patriotism and the spirit of peace and harmony among Malaysians.
His success inspired Malaysians who took to social media to offer their congratulations.
RT @NST_Online: #NSTnation National climber T. Ravichandran, who is also a person with disabilities (PwD), has become the first #Malaysian to raise the #JalurGemilang at the summit of the world's second highest mountain, K2 in #Pakistan.https://t.co/6aL0hQ6BIa
— M Poobalan (@PoobalanMy) July 24, 2022
Ravichandran paid tribute to his wife for supporting him throughout.
He also thanked his family, friends, sponsors and Malaysians who prayed for his success to reach the top.
Ravichandran added that being a disabled person was not a disadvantage but motivated him to achieve what an able-bodied person can.
@mountaineeringlife Man skies down k2 #k2 #skiing #mountain #fyp #foryoupage #foryou #viral #tiktok #redbull ♬ original sound – mountaineeringlife
Yesterday marks 25th year of Datuk M. Magendran and Datuk N. Mohanadas as the First Malaysians to conquer the summit of Mount Everest. They stepped onto Everest's summit on 23 May 1997. From that moment onwards they both had set a new definition for "Malaysia Boleh". pic.twitter.com/n5MiJp7niq
— Gunasegaran Kandaswamy (@kkvguna) May 24, 2022
Never Underestimate Mountains – But Many Climbers Do
Mountains are beautiful, and climbing them is fun, not to mention the Instagrammable moments, which explains the mountain-climbing boom in recent years.
However, professional climbers see it from a different angle.
Mountain climbing instructor Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa said things could go wrong without proper training and planning.
He said it happens more often than people think as they miss the basics.
These include making sure they carry the usual emergency stuff (food that doesn’t need cooking and an emergency shelter/blankets if you are not carrying a tent etc.) but just as importantly, keeping an eye on the weather.
He added that it is also not uncommon for people to think they’re as fit as they used to be.
Everybody’s doing it; therefore, it’s safe – right? Wrong. Sometimes people have too much confidence in their own strength, especially for those who used to climb but have stopped for a long time. They forget the body is not the same as it ages.
Mountain climbing instructor Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa to TRP on the common pitfalls of mountain climbing.
Mohd Fakhrul said he had encountered many mountain climbers getting sick, especially acute mountain sickness (AMS).
AMS is a potentially lethal condition caused by acute hypoxia after ascending to altitudes higher than 2500 m in a short time.
Mountains Aren’t Simply Out There To Take Selfies With
Broadcast journalist and seasoned mountaineer Fazli Ahmad said complacency and a failure to prepare for trouble are the worst enemies of mountain hikers.
Citing experience from a close working relationship with the Fire and Rescue Department, Fazli pointed out that many young people are climbing in increasing numbers but lack the necessary preparation and understanding.
He said one issue is the emphasis on outdoor fashion and fun, including an unhealthy penchant for taking selfies.
Some are driven by the desire to prove themselves by standing tall upon the peak, the feeling of having conquered a mighty mountain.
READ MORE: 17 Hikers Detained For Entering Gunung Nuang Without A Permit
Mereka cakap, “nanti kalau sesat, injured confirm panggil bomba!”. Tahukah kalian golongan yang sering bawa masalah ini adalah golongan yang bermalam di gunung? Lack of training & preparation, kemudian panggil bomba. Lepastu kantoi tiada permit aduhai. Sudah jatuh ditimpa tangga.
— Adha Nazri (@adhanazrx) March 4, 2020
He said these are attitudes that could turn into nightmares not only for themselves but for rescuers.
By all means, conquer all the mountains if you want to. But never forget to count the cost it comes at and the struggles along the journey. By the time you realised that you are unprepared, it’s usually too late.
Broadcast journalist and seasoned mountaineer Fazli Ahmad to TRP on mountain climbing being a task that requires patience and humility.
If anything, being on top of everything should make one feel humble and filled with gratitude, said Fazli.
In other words, just be careful and come home safe. Learn step by step, and don’t rush in.
Share your thoughts via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
