A swift and coordinated rescue mission was launched on Tuesday afternoon after a German hiker fell from Lion’s Head, prompting an emergency response from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) and the trail-running experts from Trail Search & Rescue, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The incident occurred when the hiker, who was visiting Cape Town, slipped from a section of the trail situated between the first ladder and the staples, plummeting approximately 10 metres onto a vegetated ledge. Witnesses quickly dialled the emergency number to report the accident.
Within minutes, a specialised pair of trail runners from Trail Search & Rescue was deployed, sprinting up the popular but rugged route to locate the fallen hiker. Upon arrival, the team stabilised her position on the narrow ledge and reported her condition to coordinators, preventing her from sliding further down the steep embankment.
Rescue teams including paramedics from Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS, and expert climbers, were airlifted via the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) helicopter.
Once on the ground, they assessed and treated the hiker, carefully securing her on a rescue stretcher. The technical team rigged a rope system to guide the stretcher safely down from the ledge, before the patient and rescuers were airlifted off the mountain.
The rescue was completed around 5:40pm, and the hiker was transported to a hospital for further care. ‘We wish her a full recovery,’ the WSAR team said in a statement.
Trail Search & Rescue, established in 2021, has become a critical element in WSAR operations, leveraging the fitness and local expertise of trail-runners who are able to quickly access remote and challenging terrain.
This has proven invaluable for rapid assessment and response in wilderness incidents.
WSAR encourages any interested trail-runners who wish to volunteer to reach out to Blake Dyason at 079 711 2922, joining an initiative committed to improving wilderness safety across the Western Cape.
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