Skeleton Gorge Cape Town

On Sunday the 06th of January 2019 at 16h58 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) after a call for assistance was received.

A hiking party was moving down Skeleton Gorge when one of it’s members, a 35 year old male from Cape Town,  slipped close to the ladders, sustaining an injury. These ladders are to be found in the upper section of the gorge and are mostly in areas which receive very little or no sunlight at all. As a result the area is moist and covered in moss.

It was confirmed that he had fractured his leg and was unable to walk. The Metro Rescue Incident Commander then deemed it necessary to apply for helicopter assistance, and the Air Mercy Service (AMS) Emergency Medical Rescue Helicopter which is contracted to the Western Cape Department of Health was dispatched in order to deliver an Advanced Life Support Medical Rescue Technician as well as a Rescue Climber to the scene. Meanwhile our Rescue Mountaineers, Logistical support teams, SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers and other resources were mobilised as well. These members secured a temporary Landing Zone (LZ) at the front lawns of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which included blocking off the traffic.

On arrival, the air support crew were lowered to the scene, treated the patient and immobilised his leg in preparation for a hoist out.

File photo

 

The operation was quite tricky since the tall trees and canopy of foliage partly impeded the visibility of the helicopter crew above. The team then secured the patient in a stretcher that was lowered earlier after which he was safely extracted out of the gorge.

After the helicopter had touched down at the LZ, the patient was transferred to an awaiting ambulance which transported him to a medical facility for further treatment.

We wish the gentleman a speedy recovery. WSAR would like to commend the caller for alerting us as soon as they did, for the first aid that was administered prior to our arrival and for their on scene preparation while waiting for our rescuers to arrive.

WSAR urges the public to please:-

  • be carful when negotiating moist or wet areas
  • use the ladders in the Table Mountain National Park with caution
  • carry a first aid kit in your hiking party

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