Rescue teams operating on Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, were stunned to be called out to a climber who was struggling on the slopes, after realising it was an individual who they had airlifted to safety just four days earlier.

The Chinese university student had initially got himself into difficulties while on the Fujinomiya trail, which sits about 3,000m (9,800ft) above sea level and needed a helicopter to bring him down, after he lost his spiked crampons from the bottom of climbing shoes and then developed altitude sickness.

After being checked over the unnamed 27-year-old made the decision to return to the peak just a few days later hoping to retrieve his mobile phone, as well as other personal belongings that he had left behind on his first unsuccessful climb.

Incredibly, he found himself back in trouble second time around as well, and rescuers were summoned once more after another climber discovered the student “lying on the ground, shaking with abrasions” and seemingly unable to move after displaying symptoms of altitude sickness… yet again!

This time his descent was a little more bumpy, with the decision made to bring him back down the mountain from around 2,600 feet, on a stretcher, before handing him over to an emergency team who took him to a medical facility to be properly checked-out. After treatment and a thorough examination, he was declared fit enough to be discharged, but strongly advised from making any further attempts for a long time.

Returning so soon after his first endeavour was an ill-conceived notion by an inexperienced climber, who can consider himself very fortunate not to have suffered a more serious situation. It is not known if his phone was found by anyone else and brought down, but it would seem unlikely.

Right now is actually outside of the climbing season and although there is no ban in the off-season, the Shizuoka police urges all climbers to use caution, noting that the mountain has low temperatures and is covered in snow, even in spring. They also stress that people need to be aware of exceptionally harsh conditions, which can come out of nowhere, making the slopes treacherous.

The hiking trails do not officially open until July and remain that way only through to early September, with local authorities introducing entry fees and caps on the number of entrants for safety purposes. To tackle one of Fuji’s four main trails this summer will cost people 4,000 yen ($28/£21), which although a reasonably modest charge, perhaps explains why some people prefer to try and make the summit out of season.

There is no penalty when a climber requires rescuing, but following this remarkable situation with the same person needing to be rescued twice in a matter of days, there has been outrage on social media. Returning simply to try and retrieve a mobile phone was foolhardy in the extreme and in doing so he needlessly put his rescuers in danger.

Posts were nearly all of the opinion that the man should be charged, certainly for his second rescue as he ignored safety advice, and others were even more critical saying he should be charged for both rescue missions, and publicly shamed.

Mount Fuji is renowned all over the world for its perfect cone shape and is actually an active volcano, although it hasn’t erupted since 1707. It is one of Japan‘s most popular attractions with many visitors choosing to navigate its rocky terrain through the night, in order to watch the sunrise from the summit… but not normally in the off-season and certainly not twice in a week!