Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) came to the aid of several foreign hikers, in three separate incidents, earlier this week.
Also read: WSAR rescues elderly hikers during busy weekend on Cape mountains
The first incident, on Monday evening, saw two foreign nationals calling for assistance after they embarked on a hike from the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, only to realise that they would not be able to finish before dark.
Rescuers were immediately dispatched to Table Mountain to locate and assist the pair before a WSAR member who was trail running in the area, located the lost hikers on Smuts Track and guided them to meet the rescue team at Maclear’s Beacon.
The rescue team and patients hiked back to the upper cable station and were transported down the mountain in the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway cable car.
Then on Tuesday evening, team members were dispatched to Chapman’s Peak Drive to assist three visiting students, believed to be in their early twenties, who had hiked past the summit and stopped to watch the sunset.
Without torches, and unfamiliar with the trail, they were unable to safely find their way back down from the peak.
A drone from the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS Drone Unit was used to help locate the hikers. A rescue team hiked up the group and safely guided them back down the trail.
The third incident saw members dispatched to Lion’s Head early on Wednesday morning after a 19-year-old hiker, slipped and injured himself while descending from the summit.
Paramedics and SANParks – Table Mountain National Park rangers hiked up to the patient. He was assessed and treated before being assisted down the trail.
He was later transported to hospital in an ambulance.
‘We’re starting to see an increase in the number of wilderness incidents involving uninjured or slightly injured patients,’ said WSAR spokesperson, David Nel.
‘We believe that outdoor enthusiasts are starting to call for help sooner when they start to feel unsafe.’
‘In the past, we’ve seen patients seriously injured while attempting to self-rescue, and we want to reassure everyone that we have passionate and dedicated teams ready to assist when needed.’
‘According to reports, we’re expecting weather conditions to deteriorate as we move closer to the weekend, with snow forecast for some areas of the Western Cape.’
‘We urge those intending to venture outdoors to plan accordingly and take extra precautions for the cold and wet conditions expected over the next few days.’
‘Always ensure you have the emergency contact number 021 937 0300 saved on your phone and call us before a small issue becomes a big incident’, Nel said.
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Pictures: WSAR / Jason Collins and Tim Wege