“Finding dead bodies is never easy”, says Petr Novotný, the Czech rescuer in Taiwanese mountains 

Born in Červený Kostelec, Petr Novotný has become one of the most recognisable foreign outdoor personalities in Taiwan, a place he now calls home. Known as "Beast runner", he has pushed himself through some of the island’s toughest terrains, from exposed ridgelines to remote jungle paths.

With his Taiwanese wife Eva, he is also the driving force behind the Formosa Trail, one of Taiwan’s most respected and challenging trail-running events, attracting several athletes from around the world the last week-end of November. But Petr’s work extends far beyond sport: as a rescuer, he has taken part in numerous mountain search-and-rescue missions, often sharing his experiences on his rapidly growing YouTube channel. His videos - viewed by millions - mix survival advice, mountain safety, and raw storytelling from the field - without any happy end sometimes - earning him a loyal community of followers. Petr Novotný aka "the Czech rescuer" rarely gives interviews, but he kindly showed Radio Prague International around his area and talked about his path from Czechia to Puli, in the centre of the very mountainous island of Taiwan.