‘When found, Luong Tinh’s body had no skin on his knees’

A witness said that when it was found, the body of Luong Tinh – a famous cross-country runner in China – had no skin on his knees.

The community of cross-country runners in China experienced great shock and mourned after the deaths of 21 people in the cross-mountain cross-country running competition held in Baiyin City, Gansu Province, northwest of this country. The tragedy that claimed 21 lives is said to be similar to a 2009 run in France that was not postponed when the weather suddenly turned bad. More new details about the race are being revealed from the accounts of survivors. Several athletes died in the arms of teammates This event is called the fourth “100 km through the Yellow Rock Forest” trail running with more than 170 athletes participating, taking place on May 22. Officials in the city of Baiyin apologized, pledging to investigate the tragedy and compensate the families of the deceased. Additional rescues were dispatched – up to 1,200 people in total. Photo: China OUT. The track area is not too high terrain compared to some other races, nor does any section of the track have glaciers or high passes. The highest position on the track “100 km through Yellow River Stone Forest” has an altitude of 2,250 m. There were no problems in previous events and the race became a popular event. But this year, nature had an unusual rage. There were warnings of bad weather the day before the race but no one expected the weather to turn so severe so quickly. Athletes shared on social media that even before the race started, they had to find a foothold to avoid high winds. Some people even feel relieved at first because it won’t be too hot (the temperature in Gansu is usually very high at this time). Most runners wear shorts, a T-shirt, or a lightweight windbreaker when the wind is strong. The weather started to turn bad about 3 hours after the race started. The temperature suddenly dropped sharply and hail appeared. Many athletes were blown so hard by the wind that they could not move, their faces and heads were bruised, bleeding from hail, and their whole bodies were soaked from the rain. They are disoriented and cold, some can’t even stand, or try to find shelter behind the rocks, or worse, get lost in the terrain full of steep and eroded gorges. The gust of wind caused many people’s help blankets to tear to pieces. Some athletes have died in the arms of teammates while gathering together to warm up. They were unable to locate in time due to harsh conditions and poor visibility, even when using GPS and rescue crews equipped with infrared cameras. Additional rescues were dispatched – up to 1,200 people in total. Some athletes were lucky to survive thanks to a local herder named Chu Khac Minh. Mr. Chu Khac Minh inside the cave used to hide in bad weather. He saved at least 6 lives in the race by taking them to temporary shelters. Photo: Getty Images. Mr. Chu is called a hero for allowing many athletes to hide in his cave. A number of other athletes were also taken by locals to their homes for temporary shelter. The hardest part of the track Many athletes did not bring enough thermals because the weather in previous races was quite mild. Survivors said that despite the cold and wind, they somehow had the strength and determination to keep moving, while others were exhausted and stopped to die. Some people were blown down the mountainside by the wind. Unfortunately, the weather took its toll on runners right at the hardest part of the track, between stations two and three, less than 30 kilometers from the starting point. One survivor recounted his ordeal at that passage: “The wind hit me with raindrops like bullets, it was really painful. I couldn’t open my eyes because of the strong wind and heavy rain, I had to squint to see.” “This is the hardest part of the track…it’s 8km long, with 1,000m of climbing. Only going up, not going down. The road on the mountain is rocky and gravel. Many sections are very steep,” he said. A goat herder’s cave where athletes take refuge. Photo: Handout. “Runners have to climb on all fours, motorbikes can’t get through here, and station 3 has no supplies. Even when you’ve reached the top, all hopes for food, water, and hot water are in vain. It was a barren mountain. There is no way to withdraw from the race at this point. You have to endure to get to station number four.” Pre-race photos show the athlete wearing shorts and a T-shirt. However, in fact, the race organizers have a list of mandatory and recommended equipment to bring. Accordingly, each runner must carry a GPS device that provides his or her location. Other tracking devices are provided by the organizers. Additionally, each runner is provided with a GPS map of the track to upload to their GPS watch, but tracking it in inclement weather is impossible for many. The list of recommended equipment to bring includes an emergency medical kit that includes pain relievers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheals, bandages, electrolytes, sunscreen, energy gels, sun hats, sunglasses, hiking lights, windbreak and a warm underwear. In China, equipment testing in mountain races is taken very seriously. Runners lacking the required items will not be allowed to start, and will still be subject to random checks throughout the race, leading to time penalties and disqualification for missing required items. This race does not include cold weather items such as fur coats or waterproof jackets, or trousers, as mandatory items. The authorities were quick to step in. An investigation was immediately announced by the Central Disciplinary Commission into both the cause of the tragedy and the responsibility of the race organizers. The local government decided to suspend upcoming long-distance races, not only mountain races but also road marathons. The Lanzhou Marathon in Gansu has just been announced, and the list of postponed races is getting longer and longer. A goatherd named Zhu Keming (far right) saved six runners after bad weather killed 21 others. Photo: Handout. Among the victims of the Gansu tragedy is Luong Tinh, 31 years old – China’s outstandingly talented cross-country running superstar. At the time of his death, his ranking in the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) rankings was 918 points, 8th in the world. He is the top cross-country runner in China and Asia. Luong Tinh also won in last year’s organization of this very race. Luong Tinh in an earlier race in Hong Kong. Photo: Sportograf. A witness said Luong Tinh’s body, when found, had no skin on his knees. He died of hypothermia, was blown into a canyon by the wind, and was unable to get up. Finally, Luong Tinh could not stand the cold, he left, leaving behind his wife and children. In addition, among the dead was Hoang Ngan Bin, who was closely following Luong Tinh in the race. As a professional track and field athlete, with more endurance than people and always positive, Hoang Ngan Bin’s talent has brought him to the top of this sport. Hoang Ngan Bin’s body was found not far from Luong Tinh. The third famous victim is Hoang Quan Quan, the national marathon champion of the 2019 Paralympic Games for the disabled. The organizers put profit above safety Gansu is blessed with breathtaking nature and many cultural and historical relics spanning the entire Chinese civilization, with the oldest dating back to more than 6,000 years old. To improve the livelihoods of local people in rural areas, the regional government in Gansu has been making use of these resources. Organizing outdoor events, such as trail races, is one of the ways to boost the economy and generate income. China’s outdoor industry has grown tremendously in recent years, with city dwellers increasingly interested in mountain sports such as long-distance running. Some of the world’s top long-distance mountain races are now held in China, and top international athletes also participate. One survivor received medical treatment after the race. Photo: Reuters. The organizers of the Yellow Forest Trail has been heavily criticized by the media and the running community. News site Wangyixinwen reports that all 22 race employees are part-timers. A similar website also reported that despite numerous calls to rescue the runners starting around noon, the organizers only reluctantly halted the race and eventually agreed to do so at around 2pm. China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said that some local officials put profit above safety, which led to the tragedy that left 21 people dead in Gansu province. Michel Poletti, co-founder of Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, one of the world’s leading cross-mountain events with two races franchised in China, said the tragedy was reminiscent of another race. “There was also a similar accident in France in 2009, during a race (100 km) at the Mercantour. Those were the boom years of long-distance running, the situation in France in 2009 was more or less the same as China now… lots of new races,” he said. “Three athletes were killed, for exactly the same reason – a big storm hit… some (athletes) died of the cold, others slipped. The organizers made a big mistake by not stopping the race in time.”