When Tannie Maggie Fourie from the gorgeous Oudemuragie farm decided to go for a walk to see bushman drawings in the Swartberg caves, she had an inclination to take extra precautions. This gut feeling alongside the efforts of four heroes would turn what could’ve been a potential tragedy into a story that Maggie dubs a miracle.
The first part of Maggie’s inclination, as per Die Hoorn, was to go for the excursion on Friday as opposed to the original plan on Saturday. The second was to take a two-way radio with her. These decisions granted her mercy in the end, in Maggie’s words.
Walking with her friend Mariaan van Wyk, Maggie suffered a fall that left her leg completely out of joint. She also injured her head and nose – enduring a slight concussion.
However, an emergency call was made, despite the area having no signal. Additionally, because she went for the ‘adventure’ on Friday as opposed to Saturday, the farmworkers were at the farm and able to take the call.
The heroes, Isaac Botha, Ronaldo Roman, Geswin Samson and Gerald Tarentaal were able to fetch Maggie’s granddaughter, a first aid kit and blankets. The group travelled up the mountain by tractor and a small trailer to help Maggie, but could only reach approximately 3kms from where she had fallen and had to venture the rest of the way on foot. The makeshift stretcher was a blanket with knots tied at the corners that would prove the be the vessel of her safety. They also bandaged up her wounds created a splint for her leg and kept her in consciousness when she was easily about to slip over into the unconscious realm.
The four heroes carried Maggie through deep ravines and over steep ridges and refused to leave her even when she asked them to come back once the light had struck in the new day.
However, they refused to leave her.
She was looked after with utmost concern and has expressed as per Die Hoorn that it was a story of heroes, not her and that she will never forget the compassion shown to her.
Picture: Die Hoorn
