YANBU: After massive air and land search, the Civil Defense here was able to rescue on Tuesday two young Saudis who were reported missing early Monday morning.
“Maeedh Raja Al-Baqami and Mukhlid Sirour Al-Otaibi, who were both 25 years of age, were located on the top of Yaqni Mountain, a part of the high Radwa Mountains, and were airlifted by a helicopter,” a spokesman of the Civil Defense said.
He said both men were suffering from fatigue, exhaustion and hunger.
“They were immediately rushed to the Yanbu General Hospital,” said the spokesman. “There was no indication that they had any food since they were reported missing.” He explained that the two men were spotted on the top of the mountain at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after a 10-hour search operation.
“The location was in difficult terrain about 60 km away from Yanbu,” he said.
According to the spokesman, the ground units of the Civil Defense were searching for a third man who went out early Tuesday looking for the two missing men. “Helicopters will subsequently be used,” he said.
The spokesman did not clarify how the two men got lost, but he said deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed and senior officials of the governorate, the police and Civil Defense were closely following the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, the coastal patrol have saved two people from drowning Tuesday night after they swam in a prohibited area near the seashores of Yanbu Industrial City.
Director of public affairs of the coastal patrol, Capt. Talia ibn Sulaiman Al-Shihri, said the operations room received information that two men were about to drown after they swam for a long distance and became exhausted.
He did not identify the two men but said one of them was 41 years old and the other 21.
He added that one of them received first aid at the location and the other was taken to the medical center where he was being treated.
Al-Shihri said the coast guard also Wednesday rescued two Saudis after their boat broke down. They were towed to safety, he added.
