Emergency calls for night searches.

Back Table.

On Saturday the 20th of October 2018 at 19h36 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for an overdue hiker in the northern section of Table Mountain National Park.

It was reported that the hiker was last seen at approximately 13h00 before splitting up from the party which had ascended via the Kasteelspoort route to the Back Table area of Table Mountain.

The party had made their way off the mountain, and on reaching the Kloof Nek parking area, the separated hiker was nowhere to be found.

The EMS mobile Incident Command vehicle, EMS Medical Rescue Technicians, 4×4 logistical support vehicles, and field search team members responded to Kloof Nek to initiate a night search. Meanwhile, a team of the SANParks TMNP Visitor Safety Patrol unit was dispatched to drive up to the Back Table from Constantia Nek, as a hasty deployment.

While these operatives were making their way, at 19h55 the instruction for all units to please stand down was communicated when it was positively confirmed that the overdue hiker was safely off the mountain after descending Kasteelspoort, and via the Pipe Track ended up back at Kloof Nek.

No further assistance was required.

Deer Park.

On Saturday the 20th of October 2018 at 19h58 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape EMS for a missing person in the northern section of the Table Mountain National Park.

Our operatives who had been responding to the earlier Kloof Nek call, were redirected to the Deer Park recreational area which is situated above the urban edge at Vredehoek, and below the Tafelberg road. They were asked to assist the South African Police Services (SAPS) who were on scene, after SAPS had received the initial report regarding this missing person.

Our Canine Search And Rescue unit (K9SAR) was also placed on standby.

File photo

After the responding units assembled at the INCIDENT COMMAND POST a search of the area commenced while more information was being gathered.

Details were very sketchy with conflicting information and versions of the scenario coming forth. It appeared that two people had been left behind at Deer Park after the driver of their vehicle had driven off. One of these two persons were then reported to be missing, after they had separated.

The second person had made the initial call, and shortly after the responding units arrived in the area, it was learnt that this friend had now also left the scene. At 22h13, after all efforts to make contact with the caller had proved futile, and after no further conclusive information or intelligence could be gathered, it was decided to call off the search.

SANParks had committed to be on the look out for any further leads during their 24/7/365 patrols and monitoring of the area.

We urge the public to please:

let friends or family know of your outdoor intentions
remain as one party and not to split up
plan your activities so that you and your party are safely off the mountain before sunset

We would like to thank all our volunteers and service providers who had responded to these emergencies.