Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams and paramedics had to escort a teenager down Lion’s Head after the boy presumably suffered from dehydration, heat stroke and intoxication during a party on the summit.
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At around 7:30pm, Friends of Lions Head and Signal Hill chairperson Kosta Papageorgiou was making her way up Lion’s Head for her daily summit when another regular trail user alerted her of a party being held on the summit. She says the party involved a live DJ, electronic DJ equipment, a generator and a mixing table.
‘I alerted SANPARKS Operations and City of Cape Town Law Enforcement as well as some members of Search and Rescue.’
‘On reaching the top, I observed the DJ equipment in bags as well as some empty 750ml bottles of alcohol lying around. I then saw a youth lying in a foetal position resting with his eye closed and some bystanders looking to help where they can,’ she says.
‘I checked his pulse and asked him a few simple questions. His friends told me that he had been drinking. It appeared that he may have been suffering from dehydration, and heat stroke and was likely intoxicated.’
According to Wilderness Search and Rescue Western Cape, paramedics from the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS, accompanied by teams of volunteer rescuers, SAPS WPDS and SANParks – Table Mountain National Park Rangers, responded.

The teenager was found lying on his side. Teams helped him into a harness after assessing and stabilising him and they helped him down the trail. He was driven home by a family member.
The incident was concluded shortly before 12:30am on Sunday.
David Nel, a spokesperson for WSAR, says Saturday morning proved to be busy for the search and rescue teams. ‘SARZA – Cape team members cancelled a specialised training to attend the call.’
‘In total more than 20 rescuers responded to the incident, with as many on standby. We’re grateful that the young man was not injured under the circumstances.’
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Picture: Kosta Papageorgiou via Wilderness Search and Rescue Western Cape / Facebook