Western Cape’s Wilderness Search and Rescue is kept busy

Posted by Taylah Strauss on 19 July 2022

The Western Cape’s Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams had a busy day when it responded to multiple incidents on 16 July.

A 53-year-old hiker fell down on a trail in Rooi-Els and a WSAR team was promptly dispatched, in addition to the Western Cape department of health’s emergency services helicopter. After she was rescued, she was transported to the nearest hospital via ambulance.

A 51-year-old runner fell down on a mountain trail above Franschhoek. Again, the WSAR and the Western Cape department of health’s emergency services helicopter were dispatched. The runner was stabilised before being taken to hospital.

After tending to the Franschhoek call, the WSAR was notified of another incident in Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain. A medical team was sent to administer first aid to the injured hiker while waiting for the helicopter. Given the hiker’s tricky location, however, she was inaccessible to the helicopter and had to be extracted on a stretcher with the assistance of volunteers in the area.

The team was unable to carry the stretcher down far enough before sunset and asked for a South African Air Force Oryx helicopter from Ysterplaat. The helicopter arrived at 10.15pm and transported the hiker to the hospital.

While managing the injured hiker at Platteklip Gorge, the WSAR was notified of a group of rock climbers who were having trouble abseiling from their climbing route. Together with the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, a technical team accessed the group and raised the stranded climbers. Both the team and climbers took the cable car down the mountain.

Between the injured hiker at Platteklip Gorge and the stranded abseilers, a teenager who had been reported missing was found safe and a group of lost hikers were talked back on to the trail near Kasteelspoort.

Picture: Pexels

 






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