Busy weekend for mountain rescue teams in the Western Cape
No rest for rescue teams this long weekend
• Rescue 1 – Hiker injured on contour path – Newlands Forrest
• Rescue 2 – Mountain biker crashed above Tokai
• Rescue 3 – Mountain biker crashed near Durbanville
• Rescue 4 – Cliffed-out hiker rescued near India Venster
• Rescue 5 – Lost foreign hiker found safe Lion’s Head
• Rescue 6 – Injured trail runner near De Villiers Reservoir
• Rescue 7 – Injured hiker flown from Wemmershoek Traverse
• Rescue 8 – Motorcycle incident Franschhoek Pass
• Rescue 9 – Hiking group lost on Wemmershoek Traverse
Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) Report – Monday May 1, 2023.
Dedicated teams of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) have been kept busy this past long weekend, responding to 9 call-outs.
A spokesperson for Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR), David Nel: “Rescue teams were called to assist with five incidents on Saturday and responded to four more on Sunday.
“We’ve managed 107 incidents since 01 January, noticeably more than usual, and we once again thank our team members for their continued service and dedication to the outdoor communities in the Western Cape.
“We would like to thank the services who have assisted our (WSAR) teams over the past few days, including Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), SAPS WPDS, SANParks – Table Mountain National Park Rangers and Netcare911.”
Saturday April 29:
1. A 61 year-old hiker slipped and injured her ankle on the wet wooden board walk above Newlands Forrest. She was safely carried from the contour path in a stretcher and driven to hospital by ambulance. The team was assisted by SANParks – Table Mountain National Park Rangers and members of Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).
2. A mountain biker crashed above Tokai Forrest while descending from the Constantiaberg Mast. The Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter flew the injured patient to a nearby landing zone, where he was transferred to a Netcare911 air ambulance and flown to hospital.
3. A mountain biker crashed on a trail in Durbanville near Malanshoogte Road. She was carried to a nearby 4×4 and driven to a waiting Netcare911 ambulance, before being transported to hospital.
4. A 39 year-old hiker found himself cliffed-out, after he took a wrong turn while descending the India Venster hiking trail. His friends called for help when it became clear that he was unable to climb back up the cliff face and it was impossible to safety descend any further.
A team onboard the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue Helicopter was flown to scene and immediately spotted the stranded hiker standing on a football sized rock in the middle of a large cliff.
One rescuer quickly abseiled 30m down to the stuck hiker and secured him in a safety harness. According to the hiker, he had been standing on the small protruding rock for four hours before the rescuer arrived. He was soaking wet from water dripping down the cliff.
The second rescuer then raised the hiker up the cliff using a rope system.
The patient was safely hoisted into the helicopter and flown to a nearby landing zone.
5. A foreign hiker was reported missing after becoming separated from his group of friends on Saturday afternoon. He was subsequently found safe on Lion’s Head.
Sunday:
6. Teams responded to a fallen trail runner near De Villiers Reservoir on Table Mountain. The trail runner, believed to be in his 50s, slipped and fell on a wet section of the trail, injured himself.
He was driven down the mountain and taken to hospital.
7. A team onboard the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue Helicopter were flown to a point near Wemmershoek Peak after a hiker reported that she had injured herself and was unable to continue.
The pair were hiking from Franschhoek and Du Toitskloof when she injured herself. They were both flown from the mountain to a landing zone near the Du Toitskloof Lodge.
8. Medical teams onboard the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue Helicopter were flown to the Franschhoek Pass after a motorcycle left the road.
The rider had tumbled down the cliff through the thick vegetation and landed near the river.
He was placed into a stretcher and hoisted up into the helicopter before being flown to a nearby landing zone. He was transferred to a waiting ambulance and transported to hospital.
9. Teams were placed on standby late on Sunday after another hiking party was reported lost on the Wemmershoek Traverse.
The hikers had lost their way on Friday, and after spending two extra nights looking for the trail, contacted Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) for assistance.
A team, including the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Drone Unit, was dispatched to scene to help locate the hikers early on Monday morning.
After missing a turn, the hikers continued to a point on the Du Toitskloof Pass and a rescue team met them.
They were driven back to their vehicles.
“The mountains have seen large numbers of outdoor enthusiasts taking advantage of the good weather this long weekend.
“We want to remind anyone venturing outdoors that the trails are still wet and slippery in places.
“Mind your footing and be careful on wet surfaces.
“We wish all our injured patients a full recovery,” Nel said.
• Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a network of government agencies, and civilian volunteer organisations, who partner in search and rescue.
• Members of the public are reminded to save and memorise the WSAR Emergency Contact Number, 021 937 0300.
Photos provided by Rob Burger, Brent Russel, David Nel and Mountain Club of SA – Search and Rescue
Busy weekend for mountain rescue teams in the Western Cape https://t.co/IRZVBVlZM6 #ArriveAlive #MountainRescue #Hiking #MountainBiking @WSARWesternCape pic.twitter.com/h3Rvi6do3N
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 1, 2023
