3rd October 2026 – (Hong Kong) A 51‑year‑old off‑duty principal ambulanceman surnamed Wong died after an apparent accidental fall while rock climbing at Suicide Cliff on Kowloon Peak yesterday. His wife, speaking in deep grief, said he was stationed in Tin Shui Wai and frequently joined climbing courses and training sessions during his days off, adding that she could not yet confirm whether yesterday’s practice was part of a departmental activity. She rushed to the hospital after being notified but arrived to find her husband had passed away.
According to the Fire Services Department, both the deceased and an injured companion were off‑duty principal ambulancemen. The department expressed sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the family, saying its welfare unit had been assigned to provide support. The family lives in married quarters, and Mrs Wong described her husband as a long‑serving ambulance professional who devoted significant time to honing his skills, often undertaking varied training to keep his capabilities sharp.
Police received a report at about 2.30pm that two men were climbing at Suicide Cliff when one fell from height. Firefighters and police officers launched a rescue in heavy rain, with the Government Flying Service deploying a helicopter. Shortly after 4.00pm, rescuers located the casualty near the cliff edge, moved him to a safe position in difficult weather and airlifted him to Eastern Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His colleague, a 49‑year‑old man also surnamed Wong, suffered minor abrasions and was taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Preliminary information suggests one of the ropes snapped, causing the fall. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department lists the cliff among high‑risk locations in country parks where fatal and serious incidents have occurred, citing severe weathering, loose rocks and the absence of formal trails. Authorities remind hikers and climbers that activities on the steep rock faces of Kowloon Peak require advanced technical skills and high levels of fitness.
