Faisal Shamani, a seasoned mountaineering coach, hoisted a semi-conscious woman on his back to navigate the rugged ‘Stairway to Heaven’ trail, saving her life after she suffered seizures and loss of consciousness.
RAS AL KHAIMAH: A veteran UAE hiking guide is being hailed as a hero after a grueling three-hour rescue mission to save a fellow trekker in the remote mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. Faisal Shamani, 43, known as “Faisi” in the mountaineering community, braved treacherous terrain and rising temperatures to carry a woman suffering from severe heatstroke to safety.
Emergency on the ‘Stairway to Heaven’
The incident occurred last Saturday, April 25, along the notoriously difficult “Stairway to Heaven” trail in Ras Al Ashr village. Faisal was leading a group of 16 hikers when he was alerted to a medical emergency involving another group.
Upon arriving at the scene, he found a Filipino hiker in a critical state. “She was already experiencing seizures, had speech impairment, and was losing consciousness,” Faisal recalled. Drawing on over 15 years of experience, he immediately initiated emergency first aid, using wet cloths to cool her body down while coordinating with local authorities for an evacuation.
A Three-Hour Journey to Safety
The remote and rugged nature of the border-area terrain made an immediate air or ground rescue impossible. Realizing that every minute was vital, Faisal decided to evacuate the hiker himself. He hoisted the semi-conscious woman onto his back and navigated the narrow, exposed mountain paths for three hours until he reached the trailhead.
Waiting emergency services, including police and ambulance teams, took over upon his arrival. The hiker was treated initially in Ras Al Khaimah before being transferred to a Dubai hospital. After her condition stabilized, she was discharged on the night of April 29.
A Warning to the Hiking Community
Faisal, who has summited Mount Kilimanjaro nine times and Mount Elbrus five times, emphasized that such emergencies are often preventable. As the founder of AFT Adventures, he noted that lack of preparation and underestimating the UAE’s harsh summer conditions are the leading causes of mountain accidents.
“People often don’t fully understand the terrain or the physical demands,” Faisal explained. He warned that as temperatures rise, the body struggles to regulate heat, especially when outdoor temperatures exceed 37°C. He noted that the recent March rains had provided a false sense of security, making the sudden heat spike even more dangerous for unprepared hikers.
Safety Protocols for Summer Hiking
Medical experts and mountain guides alike are urging hikers to exercise extreme caution as summer approaches. Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Elsheikh, a consultant at Burjeel Medical Center, stressed that heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. He advised that the first step is moving the victim to shade and applying cold packs to the neck, armpits, and groin.
Faisal advises those who still choose to trek to start before sunrise, carry at least one liter of water per hour, and always hike with licensed guides as required by Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah tourism departments. “Respect the conditions, know your body, and never underestimate the mountain,” he concluded.
