Table Mountain

At 16h59 on Wednesday the 6th of May 2020 Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated after a lone 73 year old local male hiker reported that one of his dogs required assistance on the mountain in the northern section of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).

While a hasty team was proceeding to gather more information the caller relayed that he had left his casualty dog on the mountain near the Apostle’s Path above Oudekraal.  This path runs from the top of Platteklip Gorge to the edge of the northern section of TMNP near the Suikerbossie Hill.  He then proceeded down the mountain to the section above Camps Bay where he was asked to meet the hasty team.  The local male could not be located at the urban edge where the jeep track meets Theresa ave since he had left the mountain to safely return the other dogs that were in his company, to his house.

Once contact was re established with the caller he was driven to meet the rest of the responders at Constantia Nek from where they were transported in 4×4 vehicles via the management road to the Back Table.
It was after dark when a search team of 10 began a two hour hike to reach the lesser used area of TMNP.
The dog was not found at the Place Last Seen (PLS) and a short search ensued.  It was later found at section lower down from the PLS, and after rescuers had reached it, the dog was unfortunately found to be deceased. The reason for the death is unknown.

A decision was made to leave the dog on the mountain after which the rescuers returned to the Incident Command Post at the Back Table.
Once all parties were safely off the mountain at Constantia Nek the teams stood down at 03h45, more than 10 hours after the initial call was received.

 

WSAR urges the public and tourists to please:-

  • obey the current “lockdown rules” which are in place
  • not walk, hike, mountain bike or trailrun on your own
  • be mindful of the limitations of the members of your party, including those of any dogs in the group
  • carry at least two liters of water per person, and two liters of water per dog

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

WSAR is a volunteer based organisation.

Our role is to support the Emergency Medical Services of the Western Cape Department of Health. 
We depend on the good will of the public and business for our funding, in order to maintain a 24/7/365 emergency standby.

We do operate in conjunction with state and other professional services, however, the vast majority of our rescue responders are volunteers who receive no remuneration at all.  Our donations is strictly managed by the WSAR Trust.

Please click here if you would like to donate to the WSAR Trust. Thank you.

In association with the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services.

 

WSAR is a member of the International Commission of Alpine Rescue.