Lion’s Head Cape Town
On Saturday the 10th of November 2018 at 06h57 the Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) Peninsula unit was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after a call for assistance was received. A person had sustained injuries after taking a fall very close to the summit of Lion’s Head.
The Air Mercy Service (AMS) Rescue Helicopter which is contracted to the Western Cape Department of Health was also instructed to respond. The nature of the terrain, the altitude, the high temperature as well as the patient’s condition meant that the best means of evacuating the casualty was via an air lift.
WSAR volunteer members who happened to be close by on the mountain at the time of the incident, were able to provide first aid and official updates for the Incident Commander who was stationed at the EMS Rescue Base in Pinelands. They remained in touch with the Mobile Incident Command vehicle once it arrived at the base of Lion’s Head.
By 07h40 an EMS Advance Life Support (ALS) Medical Rescue Technician as well as a Technical Rescue Climber were winched down to the patient to provide the necessary treatment and scene management.
Once the patient had received the required medical attention, he was stabilized and packaged into a special stretcher which was hoisted to the helicopter and safely delivered to a temporary Landing Zone (LZ) in the Signal Hill road which had been closed off to traffic.
Picture: Tim Morris
The condition of the patient was such that he required further medical treatment, and he was then transport by road ambulance to a city medical facility.
We wish the patient a speedy recovery.
Jonkershoek Stellenbosch
On Saturday the 10th of November 2018 at 10h35 the WSAR Winelands unit was activated by the Western Cape EMS after a call for assistance was received. An injured person was reported to be near the Second Waterfall ravine in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve which is under the curatorship of the Cape Nature conservation management department. This area is part of the Boland Mountain range.
At 10h55 a party of Cape Nature rangers and EMS ALS Medical Rescue Technicians were dispatched into the reserve. Our volunteer Rescue Mountaineers as well as our volunteer 4×4 unit were also responding to lend assistance. The AMS Rescue Helicopter was also placed on stand by.
The field team members who had proceeded on foot had reached the patient, and it was confirmed that his injuries were of such a nature that he was able to walk. He was subsequently led out of the ravine on foot to a jeep track. From there the patient, together with his party and the rescuers were transported by 4×4 vehicles to the entrance of the reserve.
No further assistance was required and the patient proceeded to a medical facility via private transport.
We wish the patient a speedy recovery.
Helderberg Nature Reserve Somerset West.
On Saturday the 10th of November 2018 at 19h05 the Winelands WSAR unit was activated after the EMS received a call for assistance when a hiker was reported to be overdue from a walk in the Helderberg Nature Reserve.
The last known position of the missing person was a point above the vineyards on the lower western slopes of the Helderberg Dome. This area is part of the Boland Mountain range.
To complicate matters somewhat, it was learnt that there was an approved guided night hike in progress at the same time. This meant that the parking area as well as the slopes had to be finely combed for any leads, while not being allowed to be confused or side tracked by the vehicles or the night hikers
Our medical, ground and 4×4 teams were dispatched, and after the necessary clearance was approved, the units proceeded upslope via the gravel farm roads. Meanwhile, a lonely vehicle which was thought to belong to the missing person was located in the Helderberg Nature Reserve. A volunteer was stationed at this vehicle to ensure that anyone who attempted to drive off in this vehicle, could be identified.
At 20h00 word was received that a person had made his way to a neighbouring farm after walking off the mountain on his own. It was confirmed that this male was indeed the missing person, and after a medical assessment by the ALS Medical Rescue Technician was made, he was given the all clear to be taken to his car.
We urge the public to please:-
- complete your hike before sunset
- be mindful of on coming or faster hikes, and give way to the up slope side of the mountain
- carry a map with you at all times
- never hike on your own
- carry a basic first aid kit in your bag
Pictures: Travis Talmarkes and Tim Morris.
Please call 021 937 0300 or 112 for any wilderness or mountain rescue emergencies.