Hikers come across woman's remains on Great Western; Soldier suffers cardiac arrest during recovery effort

COLOMBO (News 1st); A group of mountain climbers had come across the remains of an unidentified woman during a hike on the Great Western Mountain in Thalawakele on Tuesday (1) evening.

The remains were brought down from the mountain on Wednesday (2) evening and handed over to the Nuwara Eliya Hospital. 

The Great Western Mountain is located some 10 km away from the Thalawakele Town.

A group of mountain climbers came across the remains of an unidentified woman during a hike on the Great Western Mountain in Thalawakele on Tuesday (1) evening.

They had immediately contacted the local authorities of the discovery, the remains were brought down following an operation mounted by the Lindula Police and the Sri Lanka Army.

The deceased is believed to be between 30 and 35 years of age, and her identity is yet to be ascertained by the authorities.

The remains were moved to the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital for the postmortem examination.

A Sri Lanka Army Corporal who was involved in the effort to bring down the remain from the mountain top had suddenly fallen ill and died upon hospitalization.

Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ravi Herath speaking to News 1st said the soldier was rushed to the Nuwara Eliay General Hospital after falling ill, and it is believed that he died following a cardiac arrest.

The deceased was identified as a soldier attached to the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment in Nuwara Eliya.

He was a 37-year-old father of three from Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura.