Multiple callouts keep rescuers busy.

Kasteelspoort Table Mountain

On Wednesday the 13th of March 2019 the Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated thrice by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to respond to separate incidents in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).

At 17h12 the Peninsula WSAR was asked to deploy to an access point on the Camps Bay side of Table Mountain just above the urban area. It was reported that a 40 year old local male hiker had earlier become separated from his brother while they were ascending the popular Kasteelspoort hiking route. This was when one of them decided to turn back after he felt that he was not well enough to proceed further up the gorge. The second male had continued along the intended route and finished on Tafelberg road later in the afternoon. After unsuccessful attempts to reach his brother via cellphone, he called the rescue services. He was however hoping that the lost gentleman had made his way safely to the parked vehicle at the start of the trail,

After considering the available information, the Metro Rescue Mobile Incident Command vehicle and crew, as well as TMNP Visitor Safety Patrollers who had met up with the caller at Tafelberg road, proceeded to Theresa ave. in Rontree Estate to initiate a search. Here the party’s vehicle was found with no sign of the missing hiker. The Safety Patrollers together with the brother commenced a search of the gravel road that leads up to the Pipe Track path. By 18h10, the missing hiker was found uninjured while making his way down towards the exit point at Theresa ave. He was guided to safety and after no further assistance was required, all the parties were stood down.

Platteklip Gorge Table Mountain

On Wednesday the 13th of March 2019 at 20h45 the Peninsula WSAR was activated to respond to a call at the Platteklip Gorge hiking route in the northern section of the Table Mountain National Park. It was reported that a female hiker had suffered a knee injury just above the Contour Path while descending the trail which over looks the City Bowl.

The Metro Rescue Mobile Incident Command vehicle and SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers were deployed. A Rapid Response team made their way up the gorge and later met up with the injured hiker on the contour Path. She was able to walk with assistance, and the Visitor Safety Patrollers accompanied her down the gorge to the exit of the trail on the Tafelberg road.

After some attention, the lady was advised to please report to a medical facility should her condition worsen. All parties were then stood down.

Skeleton Gorge Table Mountain

On Wednesday the 13th of March at 20h45 the Peninsula WSAR was asked to respond to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens after a lone 36 year old male hiker from the Netherlands was reported to be overdue. The hiker’s last contact indicated that he was making his way south along the Smuts Track towards the Skeleton Gorge route.

When his friends could not reach him on his cellphone after sunset, the alarm was raised. WSAR members as well as the Kirstenbosch Security staff assembled in the parking area at the upper entrance to the gardens. The Metro Rescue Mobile Incident Command vehicle transferred to the staging area after it had completed the earlier Platteklip Gorge rescue. A Rapid response team consisting of three Rescue Mountaineers were driven in a golf cart by Kirstenbosch security staff to a point where a jeep track intersected with the Skeleton Gorge trail. A second team of five rescue mountaineers as well as back up from our Logistical support team was on standby to be deployed to another area of the TMNP should the search area be expanded.

Shortly after they had set off, the rescue team managed to make voice and audio contact with the hiker. The team met up with the gentleman after ascending about three hundred meters further. After an assessment of his condition was made, he was deemed fit enough to be guided on foot to the start of the trail. There they were met by the awaiting golf cart to be transported to the safety of the parking area.

After no further assistance was required, all the rescuers were stood down.

WSAR would like to thank the gentleman for voluntarily offering to make a financial donation to the WSAR Trust.

WSAR would also like to commend the staff at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens for always being contactable and on standby for any mountain search and rescue response or exercise.

WSAR urges the public to please:-