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26 January 2024
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Wilderness Search and Rescue Western Cape: Tragedy strikes, nine more rescued to safety
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Large numbers of dedicated rescue volunteers and professionals from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) responded to seven callouts, in the sweltering conditions, over the weekend of 21 and 22 January 2024. The incidents included a drowned bather’s body carried from Bainskloof rock pool, a fallen German hiker carried from Table Mountain, a 72-year-old British hiker assisted down Platteklip Gorge, an injured 54-year-old hiker carried down Du Toitskloof trail, a fallen hiker flown from Platteklip Gorge, an injured 27-year-old hiker carried down Elephant’s Eye Cave trail and four visiting German hikers shelter from harsh weather on top of Table Mountain.
Incident 1
Rescuers responded to Bainskloof on Sunday afternoon, 21 January 2024, after a 26-year-old drowned while swimming in a rock pool. The deceased bather’s body was placed into a rescue stretcher and slowly carried back up to the road. Rescuers used a rope hauling system to help the team carefully move the stretcher up the steep slope. The body was handed over to SAPS members waiting on scene. The incident was concluded shortly before 20h00.
Incident 2
Rescue teams were dispatched to the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Lower Cableway Station after a lone 53-year-old German hiker fell while scrambling up a challenging section of a popular hiking trail on Table Mountain on Sunday afternoon. The visiting hiker had set off from the lower cable station earlier on Sunday with the intention of hiking up the India Venster trail to the top of Table Mountain. He was scrambling up a steep section of the trail below Fountain Ledge when he suddenly fell four meters, hitting his head. Fortunately, two rock climbers heard him fall and quickly raised the alarm by calling the emergency number: Tel: 021 937 0300.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway assisted rescue efforts by ferrying teams of rescuers and equipment up the mountain. Once on top, teams quickly hiked down to the injured hiker. He was assessed and treated by a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic, before being helped into a rescue stretcher. Team members had their work cut out for them, needing to carry the injured hiker back up to the upper cable station before strong winds made it impossible to use the cable car to bring the injured hiker down the mountain.
The Cascade Rescue Company terrain-taming stretcher wheel made it possible for the team of twenty rescuers to swiftly cover the steep broken trail, in time for the cable car to ferry everyone down the mountain. The injured hiker was carried to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at19h17.
Incident 3
A visiting 72-year-old British hiker called the emergency number, while hiking up Platteklip Gorge on Friday morning. Hiking in extremely hot conditions, he started suffering with shortness of breath and was unable to continue any further. SANParks Table Mountain National Park rangers hiked up to the visiting hiker and assisted him back down the trail. The incident was concluded shortly before 13h00.
Incident 4
A 54-year-old hiker fell and injured her leg while hiking on a trail above the Du Toitskloof Lodge on Friday afternoon. Rescuers and Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS medics hiked up to her. She was treated on scene before being helped into a stretcher and carried back down to the lodge. She was assisted to an ER24 EMS ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at 16h15.
Incident 5
Rescuers responded to Platteklip Gorge on Saturday morning after a 20-year-old hiker suddenly fell from the path, injuring herself. The family of thee had started their hike up the popular trail on Saturday morning and were nearing the top when their daughter suddenly fainted. Her parents immediately called the emergency number. A small team on board the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS/Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter were flown to the scene and hoisted down to a point close to the injured hiker. She was assessed by a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic before being assisted into a rescue stretcher and hoisted up to the helicopter. She was flown to a nearby landing zone, transferred into a waiting ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at 13h55.
Incident 6
Rescue teams were dispatched to Silvermine Nature Reserve after a 27-year-old hiker fell and injured herself while returning from the Elephant's Eye Cave on Sunday morning. The family of three were hiking back to their car at the Silvermine Nature Reserve parking when she stepped awkwardly and fell, injuring her leg. Realising that she was unable to continue, her husband made an urgent call to the emergency number. Rescuers quickly hiked to meet the family. The injured hiker was assessed by a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic and helped into a rescue stretcher. Team members again used the Cascade Rescue Company terrain taming stretcher wheel to assist carrying her down the trail. She was carried to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at 14h40.
Incident 7
Four visiting German hikers called for help after missed the last cable car down Table Mountain on Sunday evening. Strong winds had forced the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to close earlier on Sunday afternoon. They were directed to a rescue shelter near the upper cable station to avoid the wet and windy conditions. After spending the night in the shelter, they safely made their way back down the mountain early on Monday morning.
According to David Nel, a spokesperson for Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), “There is a noticeable increase in the number of call-outs in warmer weather, and we urge everyone venturing outdoors on hotter days to take extra care. We want to remind our friends visiting from cooler climates that it takes a few days to fully acclimatise to the warmer conditions. Start earlier and avoid strenuous activity during the warmest hours of the day. For moderate outdoor activities, carry at least 500ml of water for every hour you intend to be busy. Slow down and remember to rest in the shade. Dress appropriately: wear a hat and closed shoes and apply sunblock regularly. Choose activities and trails in shaded areas. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the friends and family of the deceased at this sad time”, said Nel.
Photos by Matthew Trollip, Nurah Neethling, Travis Talmarkes, Oliver Marketos and Ian Austin.
Photo1: Teams of rescuers carefully carried an injured hiker from the Elephant's Eye hiking trail, using the Cascade Rescue Company terrain taming stretcher wheel on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Oliver Marketos
Photo2: A rescuer watches as the team below carefully carries the body of a deceased bather up to the road in Bainskloof. Photo by Nurah Neethling
Photo3: The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway assisted rescue efforts on Sunday, ferrying rescuers and their equipment to the top of Table Mountain. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo4: Working in wet and very windy conditions, a rescue team of more than twenty carried a fallen German hiker from Fountain Ledge up to the upper cable station. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo5: The rescue team put the game changing Cascade Rescue Company terrain taming stretcher wheel to good use as they worked against the clock to carry an injured German hiker from Table Mountain on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo6: Smiles all round as rescue teams reach the upper cable station before strong winds made it impossible to use the cable car to bring the injured hiker down the mountain. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo7: Rescuers carefully navigated the stepping stones near the Du Toitskloof Lodge as they carried an injured hiker down from the trail. Photos by Nurah Neethling
Photo8: Rescuers and Air Mercy Service (AMS) crew stowing their equipment after a fallen 20-year-old hiker was rescued from Platteklip Gorge in very hot conditions on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Travis Talmarkes
Photo9: The 27-year-old hiker, injured after falling while descending from Elephants Eye Cave, was loaded into the back of a vehicles and driven down to the parking. She was carried from the vehicle to a waiting ambulance and driven to hospital. Photo by Oliver Marketos
Photo10: Debriefing is a vital part of any incident, promoting continuous learning and improvement. Photo by Ian Austin
Save and share the Emergency Contact Number: Tel: 021 937 0300.
Donations can save lives - now via special WSAR Back-A-Buddy platform - https://www.backabuddy.co.za/sos-for-life-saving-equipment
Please support us - https://wsar.org.za/support-us/
Source: Wilderness Search and Rescue WSAR Western Cape
Incident 1
Rescuers responded to Bainskloof on Sunday afternoon, 21 January 2024, after a 26-year-old drowned while swimming in a rock pool. The deceased bather’s body was placed into a rescue stretcher and slowly carried back up to the road. Rescuers used a rope hauling system to help the team carefully move the stretcher up the steep slope. The body was handed over to SAPS members waiting on scene. The incident was concluded shortly before 20h00.
Incident 2
Rescue teams were dispatched to the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Lower Cableway Station after a lone 53-year-old German hiker fell while scrambling up a challenging section of a popular hiking trail on Table Mountain on Sunday afternoon. The visiting hiker had set off from the lower cable station earlier on Sunday with the intention of hiking up the India Venster trail to the top of Table Mountain. He was scrambling up a steep section of the trail below Fountain Ledge when he suddenly fell four meters, hitting his head. Fortunately, two rock climbers heard him fall and quickly raised the alarm by calling the emergency number: Tel: 021 937 0300.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway assisted rescue efforts by ferrying teams of rescuers and equipment up the mountain. Once on top, teams quickly hiked down to the injured hiker. He was assessed and treated by a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic, before being helped into a rescue stretcher. Team members had their work cut out for them, needing to carry the injured hiker back up to the upper cable station before strong winds made it impossible to use the cable car to bring the injured hiker down the mountain.
The Cascade Rescue Company terrain-taming stretcher wheel made it possible for the team of twenty rescuers to swiftly cover the steep broken trail, in time for the cable car to ferry everyone down the mountain. The injured hiker was carried to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at19h17.
Incident 3
A visiting 72-year-old British hiker called the emergency number, while hiking up Platteklip Gorge on Friday morning. Hiking in extremely hot conditions, he started suffering with shortness of breath and was unable to continue any further. SANParks Table Mountain National Park rangers hiked up to the visiting hiker and assisted him back down the trail. The incident was concluded shortly before 13h00.
Incident 4
A 54-year-old hiker fell and injured her leg while hiking on a trail above the Du Toitskloof Lodge on Friday afternoon. Rescuers and Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS medics hiked up to her. She was treated on scene before being helped into a stretcher and carried back down to the lodge. She was assisted to an ER24 EMS ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at 16h15.
Incident 5
Rescuers responded to Platteklip Gorge on Saturday morning after a 20-year-old hiker suddenly fell from the path, injuring herself. The family of thee had started their hike up the popular trail on Saturday morning and were nearing the top when their daughter suddenly fainted. Her parents immediately called the emergency number. A small team on board the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS/Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter were flown to the scene and hoisted down to a point close to the injured hiker. She was assessed by a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic before being assisted into a rescue stretcher and hoisted up to the helicopter. She was flown to a nearby landing zone, transferred into a waiting ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at 13h55.
Incident 6
Rescue teams were dispatched to Silvermine Nature Reserve after a 27-year-old hiker fell and injured herself while returning from the Elephant's Eye Cave on Sunday morning. The family of three were hiking back to their car at the Silvermine Nature Reserve parking when she stepped awkwardly and fell, injuring her leg. Realising that she was unable to continue, her husband made an urgent call to the emergency number. Rescuers quickly hiked to meet the family. The injured hiker was assessed by a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic and helped into a rescue stretcher. Team members again used the Cascade Rescue Company terrain taming stretcher wheel to assist carrying her down the trail. She was carried to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance and driven to hospital. The incident was concluded at 14h40.
Incident 7
Four visiting German hikers called for help after missed the last cable car down Table Mountain on Sunday evening. Strong winds had forced the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway to close earlier on Sunday afternoon. They were directed to a rescue shelter near the upper cable station to avoid the wet and windy conditions. After spending the night in the shelter, they safely made their way back down the mountain early on Monday morning.
According to David Nel, a spokesperson for Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), “There is a noticeable increase in the number of call-outs in warmer weather, and we urge everyone venturing outdoors on hotter days to take extra care. We want to remind our friends visiting from cooler climates that it takes a few days to fully acclimatise to the warmer conditions. Start earlier and avoid strenuous activity during the warmest hours of the day. For moderate outdoor activities, carry at least 500ml of water for every hour you intend to be busy. Slow down and remember to rest in the shade. Dress appropriately: wear a hat and closed shoes and apply sunblock regularly. Choose activities and trails in shaded areas. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the friends and family of the deceased at this sad time”, said Nel.
Photos by Matthew Trollip, Nurah Neethling, Travis Talmarkes, Oliver Marketos and Ian Austin.
Photo1: Teams of rescuers carefully carried an injured hiker from the Elephant's Eye hiking trail, using the Cascade Rescue Company terrain taming stretcher wheel on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Oliver Marketos
Photo2: A rescuer watches as the team below carefully carries the body of a deceased bather up to the road in Bainskloof. Photo by Nurah Neethling
Photo3: The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway assisted rescue efforts on Sunday, ferrying rescuers and their equipment to the top of Table Mountain. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo4: Working in wet and very windy conditions, a rescue team of more than twenty carried a fallen German hiker from Fountain Ledge up to the upper cable station. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo5: The rescue team put the game changing Cascade Rescue Company terrain taming stretcher wheel to good use as they worked against the clock to carry an injured German hiker from Table Mountain on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo6: Smiles all round as rescue teams reach the upper cable station before strong winds made it impossible to use the cable car to bring the injured hiker down the mountain. Photo by Matthew Trollip
Photo7: Rescuers carefully navigated the stepping stones near the Du Toitskloof Lodge as they carried an injured hiker down from the trail. Photos by Nurah Neethling
Photo8: Rescuers and Air Mercy Service (AMS) crew stowing their equipment after a fallen 20-year-old hiker was rescued from Platteklip Gorge in very hot conditions on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Travis Talmarkes
Photo9: The 27-year-old hiker, injured after falling while descending from Elephants Eye Cave, was loaded into the back of a vehicles and driven down to the parking. She was carried from the vehicle to a waiting ambulance and driven to hospital. Photo by Oliver Marketos
Photo10: Debriefing is a vital part of any incident, promoting continuous learning and improvement. Photo by Ian Austin
Save and share the Emergency Contact Number: Tel: 021 937 0300.
Donations can save lives - now via special WSAR Back-A-Buddy platform - https://www.backabuddy.co.za/sos-for-life-saving-equipment
Please support us - https://wsar.org.za/support-us/
Source: Wilderness Search and Rescue WSAR Western Cape
