A Chinese tourist who was hit in the head by a falling rock in Taroko National Park is in critical condition at Hualien City-based Tzu-Chi Buddhist General Hospital, hospital personnel said Friday.
Wang had no vital signs on the way to the hospital but was later revived and had a weak pulse, according to the hospital.
Wang sustained a 10-centimeter gash to the head and severe internal injuries but could not be operated on because her brain stem was injured, the hospital said.
As of 7 p.m., Wang was still in intensive care and in critical condition, the hospital added.
After having being informed of the accident, Hualien County Magistrate Fu Kun-chi visited Wang at the hospital, where he said he had ordered an investigation into what happened.
Taroko National Park Headquarters Deputy Director Chang Teng-wen suggested that recent rain and earthquakes may have loosened some of the rocks on the park’s cliffs.
A preliminary probe found that Wang was hit by a rock that broke away from the mountain because of natural forces rather than being pushed by monkeys as some people at the scene had said, he noted.