Table Mountain Cape Town

On Sunday the 11th of November 2018 at 08h57 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) unit was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) control center after a call for assistance was received. An elderly male was reportedly experiencing medical complications while walking along the Pipe Track which is a contour path on the Atlantic side of Table Mountain just above Camps Bay.

The EMS Mobile Incident Command vehicle, members of the SANParks Visitor Safety patrol unit as well as volunteer Rescue Mountaineers responded. In the meantime, the EMS Incident Commander maintained contact with the party via telephone, and advice was forwarded to them based on their constant and precise updates.

The SANParks members drove onto the mountain via a jeep track to a point where they met up with the party. By this time the patient’s condition had improved, and the party had decided to take a ride off the mountain in the SANParks vehicle.

File photo

At 10h20 the responders and the casualty party were safely down and back in the urban area below the mountain. Here the patient had confirmed that he was feeling much better and was advised to report to a medical facility should his condition worsen. He left via his own transport to return to his place of abode.

We trust that he will soon be well enough to enjoy the outdoors again.

Table Mountain Cape Town

On Sunday the 11th of November 2018 at 12h18 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape EMS after a call was received concerning a hiker who was suffering some medical difficulties, and was unable to proceed on foot. The location was reported to be along the Smuts Track just below and to the south of the Maclear’s Beacon which is the highest point in the Table Mountain National Park at 1086 meters above sea level.

This was the exact location of the stricken party, this was forwarded to the EMS Incident Commander via cellphone from the scene.

After establishing further information, the EMS Incident Commander deemed it necessary to request the assistance of the Air Mercy Service (AMS) Medical Rescue Helicopter which is contracted to the Western Cape Department of Health.

File photo by Travis Talmarkes

SANParks Visitor Safety patrollers had by this time secured a temporary emergency Landing Zone (LZ) by blocking off a section of the Tafelberg road near the foot of the Platteklip Gorge route.

The extreme heat and near windless conditions being experienced at the time created a scenario whereby the helicopter crew was having to contend with decreased lift on their rotor blades. This meant that the pilot and the crew had to apply maximum concentration in order to manoeuvre the aircraft safely. The safety of the flight crew, the members of the casualty party, Field Rescue Mountaineers and other hikers in their flight path are always factored into the planning of the response by the EMS Incident Commander. We are fortunate that the AMS continues to maintain extremely high safety standards and operating procedures in order for them to supply this vital service to the citizens of and the visitors to the Western Cape province.

 

The pilot made a routine safety landing at the LZ in order to off load some non essential rescue items to lighten the machine which would allow him safer and  smoother control of the helicopter.

By 13h00 an EMS Advance Life Support (ALS) Medical Rescue Technician and a Rescue Mountaineer were lowered close to the patient. Thirty minutes, later the patient who had been stabilized and placed in a stretcher was safely delivered to the LZ by the helicopter crew.

The patient was then transported to a medical facility for further attention.

Table Mountain Cape Town

On Sunday the 11th of November 2018 at 19h36 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape EMS after a call for assistance was received. A patient who was suffering the effects of dehydration required urgent attention.

The lone person was stranded at the Maclear’s Beacon on the Top Table section of Table Mountain, about one kilometer from the Upper Cable Station.

SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers as well as an EMS ALS Medical Rescue Technician were dispatched to the Upper Cable Station via Cable Car, from where they hiked across to the location of the patient. Once the rescue team had reached the patient, an assessment was made and the necessary care was given. The patient was then considered fit enough to accompany the rescue team on foot to the Upper Cable Station, from where they were safely delivered to the Lower Cable Station via the Cable Car.

By 21h22 after no further assistance was required, the patient was transfered into the care of family members.

Table Mountain Cape Town

On Monday the 12th of November 2018 at 14h55 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after receiving a call about a patient who had suffered an ankle injury while she was hiking in the vicinity of the Maclear’s Beacon on the Top Table section of Table Mountain.

As a rapid response, the EMS Incident Commander dispatched a team of SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers via Cable Car to the patient’s location, while our field responders were placed on stand by for a possible stretcher carry out. Once the SANParks members had located the patient, they were able to relay an update to the Incident Commander at the EMS Rescue Base in Pinelands.

The successful first aid intervention on the part of the SANParks members enabled the patient to be safely walked along the one kilometer path to the Upper Cable Station, where she was able to descend the mountain via the Cable Car while being monitored by the Visitor Safety Patrollers. After exiting at the Lower Cable Station, the patient who did not require any further treatment from the responders, endeavoured to visit a medical facility if her condition worsened.

WSAR would like to commend the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway company (TMAC) for their continued commitment to the cause of mountain rescue as well as mountain safety.

We urge the public to please:-

  • hike in a group
  • plan your hike so that you can be safely off the mountain before sunset.
  • be mindful of the fitness levels of the members in your party
  • carry at least two liters of water or other drink per person during the summer months especially
  • consider doing short early morning or afternoon walks in order to avoid the harsh midday sun
  • familiarise yourself with the functions of your smart phone, especially the ability to forward your exact location via the “drop pin/my location” option which is offered by WhatsApp

Please call 021 937 0300 or 112 for any wilderness or mountain rescue emergencies.