Croatian Hiker Survives 8 Days On Mount Kinabalu, Says 15-Year-Old Porter Carrying Him Down Left Him Humbled

Croatian solo hiker Mauro Persic survived eight days stranded on Mount Kinabalu after slipping and falling about 10 metres into a ravine. Injured and unable to escape alone, he survived without food and faced heavy rain and flash flooding before rescuers reached him. Around 40 people joined the rescue, including a 15-year-old porter who eventually carried him down.

A Solo Climb Turned Into An Eight-Day Fight To Survive

What Mauro Persic thought could be a manageable route up Mount Kinabalu turned out very differently once he was on the mountain. The Croatian solo hiker said he followed the Mesilau River channel in an attempt to reach the summit without using the usual trail, relying on satellite maps that appeared to show a relatively straightforward route. Instead, he encountered slippery slopes, thorny vegetation and steep granite walls. Things became critical on the fifth day near Red Rock when Persic slipped on a granite surface and fell roughly 10 metres into a ravine. He described severe injuries to his heel and calf, along with pain in his ribs, shoulder and head. Realising he could no longer get himself out, Persic managed to send his coordinates using a weak cellular connection before losing the signal.  

He Survived Without Food Before Rescuers Finally Reached Him

The next two days pushed Persic even further. According to his account, he had no food and survived by drinking water dripping from rocks while trapped between narrow rock formations. His wounds attracted flies and developed maggots, while conditions became even more dangerous on the seventh day when a sudden surge of water rushed through the ravine and swept away his sleeping bag. Persic said he spent around two hours holding onto a small sling attached to a rock crevice as heavy rain continued, while exhaustion and hallucinations began taking their toll. Help finally arrived on the morning of the eighth day when MOSAR rescuer Luis Jai Matuas reached him with a hot drink and biscuits. Persic said the larger operation eventually involved around 40 rescuers, who used ropes to move him through steep terrain before carrying him across the technically demanding Bowen Route.  

Being Carried By A 15-Year-Old Porter Left Him Feeling Humbled

Even after rescuers brought Persic back towards the public trail at Laban Rata, his injuries meant he could no longer continue on his own feet. Local porters therefore had to carry him down on their backs, and Persic said discovering that one of them was only 15 years old left him feeling deeply embarrassed and conflicted. Yet he also described the experience as a lesson in humility and accepting help when he could no longer save himself. Looking back at an ordeal that nearly cost him his life, Persic said what stayed with him was the humanity shown by the roughly 40 strangers who risked themselves to bring him home safely. His account ultimately turned what began as a story about a dangerous solo expedition into one about the rescuers and local porters who helped him survive it. 

Key Facts

What happened: Croatian solo hiker Mauro Persic became stranded on Mount Kinabalu for eight days after attempting to reach the summit away from the usual trail and later falling about 10 metres into a ravine.

Where: Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, with Persic describing his route through the Mesilau River area and his fall near Red Rock.

How long was he stranded: Eight days.

What injuries did he describe: Persic said his right heel was badly injured and bleeding, his calf had an open wound, while his ribs, shoulder and head were also hurt in the fall.

How did he survive: He said he had no food and survived partly on water dripping from rocks while waiting for help.

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Source report: Facebook Mauro Persic
Published: 14 September 2026
Primary source: Mauro Persic’s Facebook account
Individual involved: Mauro Persic, a solo hiker from Croatia
Location: Mount Kinabalu, Sabah
Duration stranded: Eight days
Reported fall: Approximately 10 metres near the Red Rock area
Rescue: Persic said around 40 rescuers were involved in bringing him to safety. MOSAR member Luis Jai Matuas was identified by Persic as the first rescuer to reach him.
15-year-old porter: Persic stated that one of the local porters who carried him after he reached the Laban Rata public trail was 15 years old.
Status of information: Details about Persic’s route, injuries, survival experience and feelings during the rescue are based primarily on his own account published on Facebook 
Original report:  Facebook

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Watch Video : 

Croatian solo hiker Mauro Persic being rescued from Mount Kinabalu after surviving eight days stranded and injured on the mountain.

By – Tarziman — 04:49PM
An independent writer who enjoys finding interesting angles in everyday stories. He believes even the simplest moments can be worth sharing when they’re told in a clear, relaxed and easy-to-understand way.