KOTA KINABALU — The mountain guides at Mount Kinabalu have been hailed as heroes, with many survivors recounting their bravery and selfless acts where they risked — and in some cases, sacrificed — their own lives to protect their guests during the earthquake which struck last Friday.

At least two mountain guides — Robbi Sapinggi, 30, and Valerian Joannes, 27 — have reportedly been killed. A third was added to the list yesterday: Joseph Selungin, 33, died after succumbing to his injuries. He had been found beneath a boulder, and he had tried in vain to save the lives of two guests who were also killed.

Mountain guides TODAY spoke to said matter-of-factly that they have a duty to be responsible for the safety of their guests once they are on the mountains. Mr Zainuddin Mahali, 35, said: “I have to protect them, if something happens (to them, it) affect us ... If we have to die for them, we have to. Because in the mountains, their lives are our responsibility.”

Chief mountain guide Richard Soibi, 49, added: “Being a mountain guide, (I have the) responsibility to protect (my) tourists from danger.”

Mr Richard, who has 20 years of experience climbing Mount Kinabalu, was part of the first search and rescue mission group which led stranded climbers to safety. They trekked for 10 hours in the cold and darkness to reach the foothills. The group was then assisted by 90 mountain guides who arrived later with food and medical supplies, as well as stretchers to aid the injured.

For the guides, they have not witnessed such a tragedy in their years of climbing the mountain, and it has left them with emotional and mental scars. Mr Doinois S, who became a mountain guide about four decades ago, said he was unsure if he will continue working as a guide when climbing resumes on Mount Kinabalu. “At the moment, I am still worried, the problem is, (an earthquake) can happen any time,” the 55-year-old said. “My family is worried ... maybe I can be or cannot be a mountain guide (in the future). I don’t know.”

Mountain guides typically earn about RM150 (S$54) to RM170 for each assignment, taking their guests up the mountain for a two-day, one-night stay. Making one to two trips each week, they can earn more than RM800 a month, Mr Richard said.

In comparison, office workers in Sabah make between RM500 and RM1,000 a month.

To become a Mount Kinabalu guide, an individual must attain a licence from Sabah Parks by undergoing courses to learn, among other things, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid and different languages.

Mr Richard said since the earthquake, his family has been worried about his safety. He is not thinking of quitting, even though he concedes that the tragedy will weigh on his mind the next time he climbs the mountain. “But being a mountain guide makes me feel free. I like outdoor games, outdoor things,” he said.

Yesterday, the guides gathered to pay their last respects to one of their own, at the funeral service for Valerian, who accompanied the Tanjong Katong Primary School students and teachers.

More than 300 of Valerian’s colleagues, friends and relatives turned up for the service at St Pius X Church at Jalan Bundu Tuhan.

In her eulogy, his fiancee, Ms Jessica Sikta, described Valerian as someone who put others before himself. She said: “He was very willing to put in the effort for the well-being of others, especially his parents. When we got news that he has been called to be with God, my heart as well as his family’s broke.”

Selungin’s employer, Sabah tour operator Amazing Borneo, also paid tribute to its guide. “Joseph was last seen hugging two of his guests in an attempt to protect them, using his body as a shield, an account related by his fellow mountain guide colleague, Sharulnizam Suhaji,” the operator said on Facebook.

“We will miss you Joseph, you will live on in the love you gave, and the laughter you shared, in our thoughts and in our memories, forever.”