Missing Importer Vice President Found Alive in Pingtung Mountain Valley
Search parties find missing 36-year-old bathroom equipment importer vice president in Pingtung mountain valley
A 36-year-old vice president of a Kaohsiung-based Spanish bathroom equipment importing firm, surnamed Hsin, was found alive in a 50-meter-deep mountain valley in Pingtung’s Sandimen Township on the 15th, after disappearing for three days.
Family offers NT$1 million reward before rescuers locate car and valley survivor
Hsin’s disappearance began on the afternoon of the 13th, when relatives last spoke with him via LINE regarding work matters. At the time of that communication, Hsin had already left his company offices wearing a black polo shirt, black trousers, and leather shoes, driving his white Mercedes-Benz toward Sandimen. By the evening of the 14th, police and family tracked his vehicle to the parking lot of the Dimoer Arts Park in Sandimen Township.
The Mercedes-Benz was found unlocked with the engine off, while Hsin’s mobile phone and car keys remained inside. The vehicle was parked at a hurried angle in an area with no surveillance cameras within 300 meters. Facing limited leads, family members offered a New Taiwan Dollar 1 million reward for information leading to his whereabouts.
A joint team of 22 police officers and firefighters launched an expanded search using two drones, eventually spotting Hsin on the 15th at 8:35 AM in a valley roughly 500 meters from the parking lot. Rescuers used ropes to descend the 50-meter cliff, finding Hsin with hand lacerations, a torn pair of pants, and a conscious mental state that allowed normal conversation.
Survivor claims mountain fall while relatives point to erratic dashcam footage
Hsin maintained to rescuers and friends that he had gone hiking and suffered a fall after losing his footing while trying to grab a rope. However, family members and investigators noted contradictions in his account, questioning why he wore formal office attire and leather shoes for a hike and why he left his communication devices behind in the vehicle.
Dashcam footage reviewed by the family after the discovery revealed more unsettling behavior. The recordings showed Hsin lying across the car hood, rolling his eyes, and talking to empty air while gesturing wildly. Investigators also noted the remnants of burned incense and ghost money ashes near where the Mercedes-Benz was parked.
During his transfer between hospitals, Hsin described feeling dazed before the fall, recounting that an unidentified woman had held his hand and led him in circles. Police and local fire authorities have not confirmed external factors beyond noting that the case remains under review to determine how a routine business day transformed into a multi-day mountain rescue operation.