Table Mountain Cape Town

On Tuesday the 01st of January 2019 at 16h31 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services after a call for assistance was received.

It was reported that a 41 year old male visitor from the USA had developed cramps and was unable to move any further. Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Rescue Technicians and SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers were dispatched by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to Constantia Nek, and drove up via the Management Road to the Back Table section of Table Mountain National Park. Once at the two main water reservoirs on Table Mountain, the responders set off on foot towards the Smuts Track where the patient was located between the Maclear’s Beacon and the summit of the Skeleton Gorge route.

On arrival the patient was assessed by the medics who administered the appropriate treatment. After an improvement in his condition was observed it was decided to walk him and his party out to the Back Table from where they were transported safely off the mountain to Constantia Nek. Once there, no further assistance was required, and all our standby teams were stood down.

Lion’s Head Cape Town

On Tuesday the 01st of January 2019 at 18h01 WSAR was activated by the Western Cape EMS after a call for assistance was received.

It was reported that a 32 year old male from Cape Town had twisted his ankle resulting in him being unable to walk any further. Due to the pending rain it was decided to dispatch the Air Mercy Service (AMS) Medical Rescue Helicopter which is contracted to the Western Cape Department of Health to the scene. On arrival an Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Rescue Technician and a Rescue Climber were lowered to the patient who was located halfway up the Lion’s Head hiking route. He was quickly attended to by the medic after which he was hoisted into the helicopter and safely delivered to a temporary Landing Zone that was secured in the Signal Hill road by members of the SANParks Vistor Safety Patrol unit.

The gentleman was then transferred to a medical facility for further treatment, and WSAR wishes him a speedy recovery

WSAR urges the public to please:-

  • carry at least two liters of water per person while hiking
  • be careful when negotiating the uneven surfaces on the mountain
  • be advised that most knee and ankle injuries occur when hikers are proceeding downhill

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