A visiting German hiker was carried from the popular Platteklip Gorge trail after 20 people slogged away for nearly five hours during an epic late-night rescue earlier this week.
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On Monday, dedicated teams of volunteers and professionals from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), along with members of City of Cape Town Law Enforcement, responded to Tafelberg Road after a 64-year-old German visitor injured himself while hiking up Table Mountain on Monday afternoon.
‘We applaud our passionate teams of rescuers for their unending dedication to wilderness rescue in the Western Cape.’ said David Nel, a spokesperson for WSAR.
‘These incredible teams of rescuers provide a critical and life changing service in some of the most demanding environments, with smiles on their faces.’
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A family visiting from Limpopo noticed the injured visitor when they were nearing the top of the Platteklip Gorge hiking trail.
According to the caller, the gentleman had stepped awkwardly and injured his ankle while hiking up the popular trail.
Unable to proceed any further, he turned around and, while seated, started to slowly drag himself down the trail.
Realising that he needed assistance, the passing family immediately called the emergency contact number: 021 937 0300.
Teams of rescuers and paramedics were ferried up the mountain in the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. Once on top, they quickly hiked across the mountain and down to the injured hiker.
He was assessed and treated before being placed in a rescue stretcher.
The rescue team again deployed the incredible Cascade Rescue Company terrain-taming stretcher wheel to help move the visiting hiker down the mountain.
At the same time, an urgent call was broadcast to all Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams, requesting additional support.
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‘A rescue team totally more than twenty, grafted for five grueling hours as they carried the injured hiker down the steep trail in the dark.’
‘A rope safety line was used to help the team as they carefully carried the patient down the broken and technical sections of the trail.’
‘It started raining halfway through the incident, so rescuers also had to contend with the wet and slippery conditions while carefully moving the stretcher down the mountain.’
‘The injured hiker was carried to a waiting ambulance and driven to hospital.’
‘We would like to thank the members from the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers who accompanied the teams onto the mountain and those who stood watch at the base of the hiking trail.’
‘We wish the patient a speedy recovery’, Nel said.
Also read:
WSAR Western Cape responds to multiple incidents over the weekend
Picture: Dwayne Evans / WSAR