Mountain search and rescues.

Lion’s Head Cape Town

On Friday the 23rd of November 2018 at 18h40 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) unit was activated by the Western Cape Provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after a call for assistance was received.

With the Lion’s Head Full Moon crowds flocking to enjoy this monthly experience, from time to time, there are those who become casualties.

A 4 year old female required treatment after injuring her back and her head after taking a fall. The Metro Rescue Mobile Incident Command vehicle as well as the Metro Rescue All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) were dispatched to the base of Lion’s Head. A team consisting of EMS Advanced Life Support Medical Rescue Technicians as well as SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers responded to locate the patient who was found at the first ladder on the trail, a little way beyond the end of the jeep track. After the necessary treatment was administered, the team brought the patient down to the jeep track, from where she was driven off in the Rescue ATV to an awaiting ambulance which then transported her to a medical facility.

Table Mountain Cape Town

On Friday the 23rd of November 2018 at 19h05 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) unit was activated by the Western Cape Provincial Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after a call for assistance was received.

A team of three foreign females had reported that a fourth female member of their group was last seen around 14h00 in the Back Table area of Table Mountain just before she became separated from the hiking party. This area is in the Northern section of the Table Mountain National Park. A volunteer from our WSAR International Translation Panel was contacted, and this member was able to extract more information from the visitors. Based on this, the EMS Incident Commander at the Pinelands Metro Rescue Base deemed it necessary to instruct a rapid response team to report to the Lower Cable Station (LCS) on the Tafelberg road.

This team consisted of EMS Advanced Life Support Medical Rescue Technicians, Rescue Mountaineers, volunteer K9 unit, 4x4s, SANParks Visitor safety Patrollers, logistical and radio operators. Plans were also being made for search teams to possibly be inserted into the field from the Constantia Nek, Kloof Nek, Suikerbossie, and the Rontree Estate access points to the National Park, if need be.

Taking into account that the missing person was on her own, spoke little English, had no knowledge of the area, her age and the pending sunset, the Incident Commander was well aware that he had no time to waste.

At 19h44 as a Rapid Response team was about to board the Cable Car, the Incident Commander confirmed that the missing person had been accounted for and that she was Safely Off the Mountain (SOM). She had apparently found her way to the Upper Cable Station from where she boarded a Cable Car to the Lower Cable Station.

No further assistance was required.

Lion’s Head Cape Town

On Friday the 23rd of November 2018 at 21h31 the Peninsula WSAR unit was activated after receiving calls for assistance.

A female patient was suffering after twisting her ankle while walking along the uneven gravel jeep track, and another female could not proceed any further after experiencing medical difficulties. The second person was confirmed to be a known cardiac patient as well.

Our members were again dispatched to service these two calls, and a Rapid Response team consisting of EMS Advanced Life Support Medical Rescue Technicians as well as SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers set off in a 4×4 vehicle. The first patient had her foot immobilised and was transported down to the start of the trail at the Signal Hill road for further attention.

The second patient was found at the first ladder by the Rapid Response team who delivered the necessary care. The medical members deemed her fit enough to walk with assistance, down to an awaiting vehicle at the jeep track, which then safely transported her off the mountain to the start of the path. The person was later taken away via private transport.

As our responders were completing their mandatory debrief of these incidents, at 23h26 another call was received to respond to a male patient at the top of Lion’s Head who had injured his ankle as well.

Our members immediately set off after it was learnt that the patient was not able to walk. On arrival at the scene, the medical crew proceeded to apply the necessary care to the patient. The team of ten rescuers then assisted her down the trail and eventually arrived at the point where the path meets the jeep track, with the patient strapped inside a stretcher. From here on the patient was delivered by 4×4 to the Signal Hill road.

Lions Head and Signal Hill Cape Town

In other incidents on the same evening, WSAR can confirm that members of a hiking party assisted one of their own who had suffered an ankle injury while hiking on Lion’s Head. She was transported away via a private vehicle after she was safely led off the mountain to the Signal Hill road.

Medical EMS responders of the ER24 private ambulance service were also on hand to treat a patient who twisted an ankle on the Signal Hill section of the Table Mountain National Park.

WSAR would like to wish these persons a speedy recovery.

Thank you to all our responders and service providers for maintaining a 24/7/365 stand by.

WSAR would like to urge the public to please:-