Hout Bay Corner Cape Town

On Monday the 31st of December 2018 at 16h45 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Services (EMS) after a call for assistance was received.

A hiking party consisting of three men from Cape Town were in the Hout Bay Corner section of Table Mountain National Park above the Suikerbossie Hill when they requested guidance from WSAR after loosing the path and finding it difficult to make sense of their whereabouts. One of our duty Rescue Mountaineers made contact with the party via cellphone and it was established that they were in an area just south of Judas Peak. Details were exchanged via the WhatsApp platform and so the party was remotely guided towards and down Llandudno ravine.

Every fifteen minutes contact with the party was established in order to monitor their progress and their heading. By 18h18 it was confirmed that the party was safely off the mountain.

WSAR would like to commend the party for remaining stationary and calling the emergency number for assistance after they had realised that they were not exactly sure of their route.

Table Mountain Cape Town

On Monday the 31st of December 2018 at 18h07 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape EMS to assist a 68 year old male hiker who was experiencing difficulties while walking in a section of the mountain which is roughly midway between the Upper Cable Station and the Back Table of Table Mountain.

Based on the information received, it was decided to dispatch a Rapid Response team consisting of two Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Rescue Technicians in a Rescue 4×4 vehicle to Constantia Nek. From here they drove up the Table Mountain National Park management road towards the Back Table. Back up 4×4 vehicles from our Logistical Support unit were also mobilised to transport responding Rescue Mountaineers to assist.

The Incident Commander at the Metro Rescue Base experienced some challenges as a result of poor cellphone reception and the fact that the stricken party had not remained stationary after calling for help.

It was subsequently learnt that the party consisting of 11 females and males had ascended via the Kasteelspoort route to the Back Table on their way to the Upper Cable Station. At a point the party split up into multiple groups who made their way through the Valley of the Red Gods. Our Rapid Response team had in the meantime set off on foot towards the casualty after leaving their 4×4 at one of the huts on the Back Table. Shortly afterwards new information was received that the parties had regrouped in the Echo Valley area and then made their way to the Upper Cable Way Station before our Rapid Response team could locate them.

Once at the Upper Cable Station the casualty declined further assistance and confirmed that they would be descending via the Cable Car.

Platteklip Gorge Cape Town

On Monday the 31st of December 2018 at 19h30 WSAR received a call informing that a female hiker who was descending the Platteklip Gorge was finding it difficult to continue. The Incident Commander at the Metro Rescue Base could not reach the caller via cellphone, after numerous attempts.

Once contact was regained it was learnt that another hiking party had come to the aid of the casualty female by offering her liquids, foods and energy supplements. The two parties remained together and assisted each other down the Gorge in the dark until they were safely off the mountain at the Tafelberg road.

No further assistance was required, and our Rescue Mountaineers were asked to stand down.

WSAR urges the public to please:-

  • carry at least one good hiking map in your party
  • remember that a section of a hiking map saved on your phone, or an App will be of no use when your cell phone battery is depleted or when reception is lost
  • consider doing easier and shorter walks in the early morning or late afternoon during the hot summer months
  • remain stationary after calling the emergency number
  • have sufficient energy snacks, food and liquids in you pack

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