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3 February 2023
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EMS paramedics in dramatic moonlight rescue near Blinkwater Ravine, Clifton in Cape Town
A pair of expert paramedics have been praised for a courageous mountain rescue in the dead of night. The paramedics serve in the Western Cape Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The perilous rescue took place near Blinkwater Ravine, on cliffs high above Clifton’s beaches. The emergency call-out was received just after 01h00am on Tuesday morning, 31 January 2023.
A pair of friends, in their 20s, had started their hike up Platteklip Gorge on Monday morning but became lost soon after reaching the top of Table Mountain. This, after reportedly being given inaccurate route information about the second part of their intended hike. Now hiking in the dark of night without any torches, they saw the lights of the Atlantic Seaboard, down below them and decided to descend a gully, still guided by poor information.
One hiker, aged 28, tumbled down the mountainside and then fell a further seven metres into a rocky river ravine. His friend, uninjured but stranded above on the steep mountain side, called Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) for help.
A WSAR team was driven up the back “Table” and continued on foot in search of the patients.
A drone from the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Drone Unit was used to guide the rescue team to the stranded hiker. Once on scene, the team safetied the stranded hiker, before sending an EMS paramedic, accompanied by a rescue climber, down to the injured patient. After assessing the patient's injuries, additional medical assistance was requested and a second EMS paramedic immediately lowered himself down the cliff, to the patient’s aid.
The fallen patient was seriously injured; treatment was made difficult by cold, dark and wet conditions and the challenging, steep mountain terrain. The assistance of the Western Cape Department of Health EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter was requested and the helicopter arrived soon after first light.
The stranded hiker was safetied in a rescue harness and helmet, before being hoisted up into the aircraft. The second patient was packaged into a stretcher, hoisted off the mountain and both patients were flown to a landing zone in Camps Bay.
The pair was then taken to hospital by ambulance.
WSAR team leader Andrew Lewis, said, “These were world-class paramedics in action. We are blessed to have paramedics of such skilled and courageous character serving the people of the Western Cape. We salute both these heroes, their colleagues and the entire Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, for their selfless work.”
WSAR’s David Nel said, “We appeal to all mountain users to consult official hiking maps when planning their routes and always stick to the paths. Please save our WSAR emergency contact number 021 937 0300.”
Photos provided by Rob Burger, Raphael Shaw and Andrew Lewis
Source: Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR)
A pair of friends, in their 20s, had started their hike up Platteklip Gorge on Monday morning but became lost soon after reaching the top of Table Mountain. This, after reportedly being given inaccurate route information about the second part of their intended hike. Now hiking in the dark of night without any torches, they saw the lights of the Atlantic Seaboard, down below them and decided to descend a gully, still guided by poor information.
One hiker, aged 28, tumbled down the mountainside and then fell a further seven metres into a rocky river ravine. His friend, uninjured but stranded above on the steep mountain side, called Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) for help.
A WSAR team was driven up the back “Table” and continued on foot in search of the patients.
A drone from the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Drone Unit was used to guide the rescue team to the stranded hiker. Once on scene, the team safetied the stranded hiker, before sending an EMS paramedic, accompanied by a rescue climber, down to the injured patient. After assessing the patient's injuries, additional medical assistance was requested and a second EMS paramedic immediately lowered himself down the cliff, to the patient’s aid.
The fallen patient was seriously injured; treatment was made difficult by cold, dark and wet conditions and the challenging, steep mountain terrain. The assistance of the Western Cape Department of Health EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter was requested and the helicopter arrived soon after first light.
The stranded hiker was safetied in a rescue harness and helmet, before being hoisted up into the aircraft. The second patient was packaged into a stretcher, hoisted off the mountain and both patients were flown to a landing zone in Camps Bay.
The pair was then taken to hospital by ambulance.
WSAR team leader Andrew Lewis, said, “These were world-class paramedics in action. We are blessed to have paramedics of such skilled and courageous character serving the people of the Western Cape. We salute both these heroes, their colleagues and the entire Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team, for their selfless work.”
WSAR’s David Nel said, “We appeal to all mountain users to consult official hiking maps when planning their routes and always stick to the paths. Please save our WSAR emergency contact number 021 937 0300.”
Photos provided by Rob Burger, Raphael Shaw and Andrew Lewis
Source: Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR)