Two people stranded on a riverbed in eastern Taiwan were pulled to safety after a three-day ordeal, in a rescue that nearly cost a firefighter his life.

• Heavy rain on Monday trapped two sightseers in a steep gorge upstream on the Mugua River in Hualien County, near the Longjian power plant.
• Rescuers rappelled about 100 metres into the ravine but the water was too fast and high to cross on the first two attempts.
• With crossing too risky, crews used a drone to string a line across the gorge and send over warm clothes, food and a radio to keep the pair alive and in contact.
• One rescuer was swept off his feet trying to wade across but was saved by his safety rope.
• The water finally dropped enough on Wednesday afternoon to rig a rope crossing and bring both people out unharmed.

Outlook: More heavy rain in Taiwan's mountains would keep these narrow gorges dangerous for anyone visiting the riverbeds.