Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) undertook its most challenging search of a busy festive season when a hiker was saved in the Cederberg on Wednesday following a 17 hour ordeal.
Also read: WATCH: conquering Cederberg’s epic waterfall hike
This was one of three rescues on the day as more hikers are expected to take to the mountains of the province as the new year approaches.
According to WSAR spokesperson, David Nel, the hiker and three others lost their way near the Nuwerust Farm in the Cederberg and decided to descend the mountain via a series of narrow cracks.
“One of the hikers became lodged in a chimney late on Tuesday afternoon and was unable to free himself. After a sleepless night constricted in the narrow chimney, the men were able to flag down passing rock climbers who alerted local emergency services,” said Nel..
“A WSAR team on board the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/ Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter flew to the site and once on scene, they had to abseil down to the hikers. The team then freed the hiker lodged in the chimney.”
According to IOL, one of the rescuers said that the man was just able to stand on his toes in the bottom of the chimney, but his chest was constricted to the point where he was only able to draw small breaths.
In an unrelated incident on Lion’s Head, a man had to be transported via helicopter after he slipped and fell.
Meanwhile, at the Elephant’s Eye Cave above Silvermine, a member of a local hiking group was injured while descending and was driven back after being assisted down the trail.
Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS spokesperson Venessa Horn said: “At this time of year, high temperatures and strong winds create challenging conditions for the pilots … there was fatality on Table Mountain earlier on the moth.”
Also read:
Picture: Cape{town}Etc