Guangdong university student missing for nearly 3 months at Longdou Peak, parents offer 30,000 yuan reward for information. Who bears legal responsibility and search and rescue costs?
Lead
In March 2025, a missing person notice struck a chord with the public: a 20-year-old college student from Guangdong went missing while hiking at Longdou Peak in Shixing County, Shaoguan City, and has now been missing for nearly three months. His parents have offered a 30,000 yuan reward for any leads. Longdou Peak is renowned for its steep and perilous terrain, making it a popular hiking route in the outdoor community, but it has seen multiple injury and fatality incidents in recent years. This incident is not only a family tragedy but has also sparked public debate over legal liability in outdoor adventures: Did the scenic area management fulfill its duty of safety assurance? Who bears the cost of search and rescue operations? What is the legal validity of offering a reward for missing person information? As lawyers, it is necessary for us to analyze these issues from a legal perspective and provide rights-protection guidance for outdoor enthusiasts and their families.
I. The Safety Protection Obligation and Liability Boundary of Scenic Area Managers
According to Article 1198 of the Civil Code, where the operator or manager of business premises such as hotels, shopping malls, banks, railway stations, entertainment venues, or of public venues fails to fulfill their security obligations, causing harm to another person, they shall bear tort liability. Longdoufeng, as a tourist attraction, imposes on its managers a duty to provide security safeguards to visitors, including setting up warning signs, improving protective facilities, and deploying rescue resources.
However, Longdou Peak is a natural mountain-type scenic area, and some parts are not fully developed, so the boundaries of the manager's obligations need to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. If the location where the person went missing falls within a developed and open area, and the manager failed to set up clear warnings or provide adequate safety facilities, the manager may bear corresponding liability. If it falls within an undeveloped or clearly restricted "wild trail" where entry is prohibited, the manager's obligation is relatively reduced. In judicial practice, courts will comprehensively consider factors such as the scenic area's risk warnings and the tourist's own fault. For example, in similar cases, if a tourist enters a dangerous area without authorization, courts often find that the tourist bears the primary risk themselves.
Lawyer's Reminder: Outdoor enthusiasts should familiarize themselves with scenic area management regulations in advance and avoid entering unopened areas. If individuals are injured or go missing due to management's failure to fulfill their duties, family members may collect evidence (such as missing warning signs, inadequate rescue efforts, etc.) and seek compensation in accordance with the law.
II. Who Bears the Search and Rescue Costs? The Distinction Between Law and Reason
After the missing person incident occurred, the local government and rescue teams invested substantial manpower and material resources in the search operation, at considerable expense. According to Article 82 of the Tourism Law, tourists in danger to their personal safety or property have the right to request timely assistance from tourism operators, the local government, and relevant institutions. However, "rescue" does not mean "free of charge," and the law does not explicitly specify the entity responsible for bearing the search and rescue costs.
In practice, search and rescue costs are usually borne by government finances and public welfare rescue teams, but some localities have introduced regulations that allow those who enter undeveloped areas in violation of rules to be required to bear part or all of the rescue costs if they get into trouble. For example, in Sichuan, Anhui, and other places, "outdoor enthusiasts" who made illegal crossings have been pursued for rescue costs after being rescued. In the Longdoufeng incident, if the college student failed to register as required or entered restricted areas, his family may face cost recovery.
Lawyer's advice: Before engaging in outdoor activities, you should purchase insurance that includes emergency rescue coverage, and comply with scenic area regulations to avoid bearing additional financial liability due to violations. For family members, if faced with unreasonable claims for compensation, they may consult a lawyer to respond in accordance with the law.
III. Legal Validity of Parents Offering a 30,000 Yuan Reward to Search for a Person
The parents issued a reward notice, promising to pay 30,000 yuan to anyone who provides valid leads. According to Article 499 of the Civil Code, where a rewarder publicly declares that remuneration will be paid to a person who completes a specific act, the person who completes the act has the right to request payment. This means that if someone provides leads and assists in locating the missing person, the parents are obligated to pay the reward as promised.
However, it should be noted that the validity of a reward advertisement is closely tied to the "completion of a specific act." If the clues ultimately do not directly lead to locating the person, or if the provider is a state organ employee (such as a police officer) who obtained the information in the course of performing official duties, the reward may not need to be paid. In addition, a reward advertisement may be revoked, provided that it is publicly announced in the same manner before the rewarded act is completed.
Lawyer's reminder: When publishing a reward advertisement, the scope of leads and payment conditions should be clearly defined to avoid disputes. If a dispute arises over the payment of the reward, it may be resolved through litigation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Contract Part of the Civil Code.
IV. Legal Risk Warnings and Prevention for Outdoor Adventure
In recent years, outdoor adventure accidents have occurred frequently, and legal risks cannot be ignored. First, individuals should be responsible for their own safety. According to Article 1176 of the Civil Code, if a person voluntarily participates in cultural or sports activities with certain risks and suffers harm due to the conduct of another participant, the victim may not request that other participant bear tort liability, unless the other participant acted with intent or gross negligence. This means that in outdoor activities, if one is injured due to a teammate's negligence, it is quite difficult to pursue liability.
Second, organizers bear significant responsibility. If an activity is organized by a club or a team leader, they must fulfill their safety protection obligations; otherwise, they may bear tort liability under the Civil Code. For minors and university students, parents should strengthen safety education, and schools should also conduct outdoor safety legal lectures.
Lawyer's advice: Outdoor enthusiasts should sign waiver agreements, purchase insurance, travel in groups, and familiarize themselves with rescue channels in advance. In the event of an accident, promptly call the police and preserve evidence, and seek legal assistance when necessary to protect their legal rights and interests.
V. Conclusion: Law Safeguards Life
The search for the missing person on Longdou Peak is still ongoing, and we pray for a miracle. However, the legal issues triggered by this incident deserve careful consideration from everyone. Whether scenic area managers, event organizers, or ordinary tourists, all should remain vigilant about legal obligations and fulfill their duty of safety. As lawyers, we call for the improvement of legal regulations governing outdoor adventures and clearer allocation of responsibilities, while also reminding the public that life is priceless and the law serves as the final line of protection. Guangdong Zhiming Law Firm has long been dedicated to public safety legal affairs and can provide professional consultation and representation services for legal matters related to outdoor activities, committed to safeguarding every life through the power of law.
