Emergency Relief｜Yak Man｜Jiri
“Most important is I am still alive. I cannot imagine what would happen to my family without me. I was worrying too much about my wife and baby after the accident.” – Lakpa Rinji Sherpa.
Yak man accidentally fell into the valley
The accident happened on October 19, 2021, in the high mountains of Rabu village in the remote Jiri region of Nepal. A 28-year-old young father, Lhakpa Rinji, was grazing cattle as always, but he was pushed by a male yak and accidentally fell 30 meters from the cliff to the bottom of the valley. His internal organs were torn apart, and he fell into a coma. Fortunately, he was found by neighbors a few hours later. The life-saving angel carried him on his back and walked for five hours. He went down the mountain to the town hospital and was sent to the ambulance after a brief treatment. He arrived at the hospital in Kathmandu in the middle of the night and was admitted to ICU ( Intensive Care Unit).
Doctors diagnosed fourth-degree trauma to the liver and bleeding from multiple organs such as the lungs and kidneys. He spent nine days in the intensive care unit, a tug-of-war with the god of death, and finally escaped the danger and moved to the general ward for seven days. Although there was still blood accumulation in the lungs, he had to move to a relative’s house in Kathmandu to save on the cost of hospitalization.
The hardship fate of the yak man
His parents have been yak herding for generations. Lhakpa was born in a tent on a yak farm and grew up with yaks all his life. The family is so poor that they have never gone to school, living in a harsh environment, with no water, electricity, or gas. They have heavy and limitless work. At the age of 15, he was married at the behest of his parents and had three children.
Yaks grow in high-altitude and cold regions, and grazing requires constant movement of the environment. As a result, Lapa must drive yaks among the cliffs and traverse the rugged and narrow mountain paths. He owns 15 yaks with loans and earns a living by selling yak milk.
Heavy medical expenses
After his body gradually healed, the next problem he had to face was medical bills. When SCH and ICEF heard the news, they immediately let social workers visit and help with the admission deposit and daily ICU expenses. The burden of the whole course of treatment on the yak family is too heavy. He was fortunate to have support from kind sponsors throughout his treatment.
Now Lhakpa Rinji recovered and returned mountain home to get together with his wife and children. He appreciated all the supporters for saving him and his family through this time!
