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10 January 2025
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Firefighter rescued from Table Mountain fire line, Cape Town
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Shortly after the start of the fire on Sunday afternoon, 29 December 2024, specialist teams of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search and Rescue WSAR Western Cape responded to Table Mountain alongside peers in the various fire and law enforcement services, after a firefighter injured himself on the fire line. The 30-year-old NCC Environmental Services firefighter and his team were making their way up Union Ravine to fight the fire yesterday afternoon, when he slipped and fell awkwardly on his knee.
A small team on board the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS/Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter was flown to scene and hoisted down to a point close to the injured firefighter.
He was treated by a paramedic and helped into a rescue harness, before being hoisted from the mountain and flown to a nearby landing zone.
He was carried to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance and driven to hospital.
While rescuers were stood down after the incident was concluded at 19h30, fire teams remained on the mountain mopping up and fighting any flare ups, through the night.
“We thank our colleagues from the various services, including those working tirelessly behind the scenes and wish out brave patient a swift recovery”, said WSAR in their statement.
Update from NCC
Many people have requested an update on one of our firefighters that was injured during this incident. We are happy to report that he has received treatment at a medical facility and the fall did not fracture any bones, it only caused a very painful contusion that left him unable to continue his work. He will be given as much time as needed to heal so that he can get back to what he loves doing as soon as he can.
NCC Environmental Services would like to thank all that played a role in getting him off the mountain and to a medical facility as quickly and as safely as possible.
Special mention must go to the Volunteer Wildfire Services crew member who treated him on site. Secondly to the Wilderness Search And Rescue WSAR Western Cape and Air Mercy Service (AMS) who got him safely off the mountain. They do amazing work and need to be thanked for more than this incident. Finally to the SANParks - Table Mountain National Park Operations Centre who ensured that all of the above happened efficiently and effectively.
Thanks to John Wilson and NCC’s Doyen Ziharilwa for the images.
These images give an indication of where the crews had to go to try and contain this fire, as well as our firefighter being extracted from the ledge where they were working.
Source: WSAR, NCC
A small team on board the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS/Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter was flown to scene and hoisted down to a point close to the injured firefighter.
He was treated by a paramedic and helped into a rescue harness, before being hoisted from the mountain and flown to a nearby landing zone.
He was carried to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance and driven to hospital.
While rescuers were stood down after the incident was concluded at 19h30, fire teams remained on the mountain mopping up and fighting any flare ups, through the night.
“We thank our colleagues from the various services, including those working tirelessly behind the scenes and wish out brave patient a swift recovery”, said WSAR in their statement.
Update from NCC
Many people have requested an update on one of our firefighters that was injured during this incident. We are happy to report that he has received treatment at a medical facility and the fall did not fracture any bones, it only caused a very painful contusion that left him unable to continue his work. He will be given as much time as needed to heal so that he can get back to what he loves doing as soon as he can.
NCC Environmental Services would like to thank all that played a role in getting him off the mountain and to a medical facility as quickly and as safely as possible.
Special mention must go to the Volunteer Wildfire Services crew member who treated him on site. Secondly to the Wilderness Search And Rescue WSAR Western Cape and Air Mercy Service (AMS) who got him safely off the mountain. They do amazing work and need to be thanked for more than this incident. Finally to the SANParks - Table Mountain National Park Operations Centre who ensured that all of the above happened efficiently and effectively.
Thanks to John Wilson and NCC’s Doyen Ziharilwa for the images.
These images give an indication of where the crews had to go to try and contain this fire, as well as our firefighter being extracted from the ledge where they were working.
Source: WSAR, NCC
