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21 June 2024
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Bad weather requires 20km rescue on foot in Baviaanskloof in the Eastern Cape
On 23 May 2024, the Mountain Club of South Africa Search and Rescue (MCSA SAR) Gqeberha-based Eastern Province team, in collaboration with Sarah Baartman EMS and SAPS, undertook an overnight rescue mission on the Leopard trail in the Baviaanskloof. The trail, situated in a remote area and known for its popularity as a slackpacking route, posed significant difficulties.
One of the hikers in a group was injured and required medical attention. Fortunately, the hike organisers provide satellite phones for emergency use by hiking groups, enabling them to raise the alarm, provide weather and patient updates, and be offered first aid guidance over the phone.
Plan A was to use a helicopter to extract the injured hiker, however, poor weather prevented the helicopter from taking off. With the option of a helicopter extraction not realising and adverse weather conditions continuing, the team was forced to shift to Plan B.
At 17h00 on Thursday, a team of three MCSA SAR members drove +4 hours via Willowmore to the Western Baviaanskloof to assist EMS and other role players in the rescue. A team of EMS paramedics and a SAPS member started walking into the injured hiker early in the evening followed a few hours later by the MCSA rescuers who brought in a technical stretcher and wheel to aid in the extraction. The EMS team arrived on scene first and after assessing the hiker’s injuries decided to wait for the arrival of more resources. The MCSA team arrived on the scene at 2am after a 12km hike and the decision was made to wait until morning before deciding on a course of action.
As Friday dawned, the weather once again prohibited a helicopter extraction, so the team commenced an extraction on foot. Fortunately, after some medical attention and a night of rest, the injured hiker was able to walk, albeit slowly. The decision was made to start walking out with the team ready to use the stretcher should it be needed. After another 12km hike out, the team arrived at one of the Leopard Trail’s overnight huts by 13h00, from where the patient could be transported further by road.
Source: Mountain Club of SA - Search And Rescue
One of the hikers in a group was injured and required medical attention. Fortunately, the hike organisers provide satellite phones for emergency use by hiking groups, enabling them to raise the alarm, provide weather and patient updates, and be offered first aid guidance over the phone.
Plan A was to use a helicopter to extract the injured hiker, however, poor weather prevented the helicopter from taking off. With the option of a helicopter extraction not realising and adverse weather conditions continuing, the team was forced to shift to Plan B.
At 17h00 on Thursday, a team of three MCSA SAR members drove +4 hours via Willowmore to the Western Baviaanskloof to assist EMS and other role players in the rescue. A team of EMS paramedics and a SAPS member started walking into the injured hiker early in the evening followed a few hours later by the MCSA rescuers who brought in a technical stretcher and wheel to aid in the extraction. The EMS team arrived on scene first and after assessing the hiker’s injuries decided to wait for the arrival of more resources. The MCSA team arrived on the scene at 2am after a 12km hike and the decision was made to wait until morning before deciding on a course of action.
As Friday dawned, the weather once again prohibited a helicopter extraction, so the team commenced an extraction on foot. Fortunately, after some medical attention and a night of rest, the injured hiker was able to walk, albeit slowly. The decision was made to start walking out with the team ready to use the stretcher should it be needed. After another 12km hike out, the team arrived at one of the Leopard Trail’s overnight huts by 13h00, from where the patient could be transported further by road.
Source: Mountain Club of SA - Search And Rescue
