While performing field research in an undeveloped region of northern China, a university professor was lost for one day and two nights before being located, according to CCTV News.
At 7:39pm on Saturday, Lin Xiubin, from the Geology Department of the School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University, lost communication with other members of a research team after finishing his fieldwork in Lenghu, Qinghai province.
Lenghu, which translates to “cold lake” and is located on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, was one of China’s four major oil fields. When the oil supplies ran out in the 1960s, it was abandoned. Last year, a big observatory project was started to turn the old town into a world-class place to look at the stars. Since then, it has become a popular place for science, sci-fi culture, and tourism.
The Yadan landform-featured site is chilly, windy, and exceedingly dry at an elevation of 2,800 meters. Temperatures may vary by more than 50 degrees Celsius between day and night, with direct sunshine causing the surface temperature to rise to at least 40 degrees Celsius during the day. However, at night, the temperature might drop as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
Local governments sent 15 research and rescue teams from several agencies to the scene in an effort to locate Lin as quickly as possible. On Saturday night, there were around 90 personnel involved in the rescue effort, along with over 25 vehicles and drones, as of 9pm local time.
Lin was recovered at 6:58 a.m. local time on Monday, and his vital signs have stabilized after his recovery.
