Cape Town visitors rescued after collapsing on the mountain

Platteklip Gorge Cape Town

On Saturday the 29th of December 2018 at 14h09 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after a call for assistance was received.

It was reported that a 43 year old female visitor from Pretoria who was hiking up the popular Platteklip Gorge route, could not proceed any further after she began experiencing difficulties as a result of the extreme heat conditions along the trail. The Metro Rescue Mobile Incident Command vehicle was dispatched to the Lower Cable Station while members of the SANParks Visitor Safety Patrol unit set off towards the top of Platteklip Gorge after ascending the mountain via the Cable Car.

The Visitor Safety Patrollers located the patient not far from the top of the gorge, and shortly afterwards they were joined by our Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Rescue Technicians and Rescue Mountaineers who proceeded to treat the patient for symptoms that related to dehydration, heat exhaustion and fatigue.

Once she was stabilised, it was decided that the stretcher was not necessary, as she was deemed well enough to be walked with assistance in the direction of the Upper Cable Station, from where she was safely delivered to the Lower Cable Station via the cable car.

The patient did not require any further medical attention from our medics, and she was advised to visit a medical facility should her condition worsen. We wish her a speedy recovery.

WSAR would like to commend the Table Mountain Areal Cableway Company for the continued support and commitment to mountain rescue in the Table Mountain National Park.

Lion’s Head Cape Town.

On Saturday the 29th of December 2018 at 16h43 WSAR was again activated by the Western Cape EMS after a call for assistance was received for a patient high up on Lion’s head.

The Metro Rescue Incident Command vehicle which was busy wrapping up the earlier Platteklip Gorge call at the time, was asked to relocate to the start of the hiking trail on Signal Hill road. The Rescue Mountaineers, Rescue Technicians as well as our Logistical Support members also responded from the Lower Cable station and proceeded to close off a section of the road in order to create a temporary Landing Zone (LZ) as the Air Mercy Service (AMS) Medical Rescue Helicopter which is contracted to the Western Cape Department of Health was activated to respond to this call as well.

A 56 year old male visitor from Norway who was at a position close to the summit of Lion’s Head was reportedly suffering from the effects of dehydration, heat exhaustion and fatigue. The helicopter was brought in to deliver an Advanced Life Support Medical Rescue Technician as well as a Rescue Climber to the scene of the incident. Once the patient had been attended to by the medic, he was hoisted into the hovering helicopter and safely delivered to the LZ.

After no further treatment was required, the gentleman was advised by the medics to please report to a medical facility should his condition worsen. We wish him a speedy recovery.

The services of our members who had responded to both these calls are appreciated.

WSAR urges the public to please:-

do hikes that suite your fitness levels
consider doing short easier walks during the hot summer months
wear a hat and apply sunscreen
avoid wearing dark coloured clothing
carry at least two liters of water per person, and take regular small sips while on the trail
remember that in extreme cases, heat exhaustion could lead to cardiac arrest