Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) Western Cape had another busy weekend, rescuing two people in separate incidents in the Cape mountains.
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In the first incident, professional and volunteer teams, along with SANParks – Table Mountain National Park rangers, responded to Rhodes Memorial and Newlands Forest on Saturday afternoon after a hiker fell from a wooden boardwalk.
The 33-year-old and her friends were hiking between the King’s Blockhouse and the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden when she slipped and fell off the trail, injuring her leg.
When her friends realised she was injured and unable to move, they called the emergency number right away.
Rescuers loaded her onto a stretcher and transported her down the trail to a waiting vehicle. She was driven to the Newlands Forest parking lot, then transferred to an ambulance and driven to the hospital.
‘With clear conditions expected over the next few days, we urge everyone planning to venture outdoors to take extra care when crossing wet surfaces, including rocks, tree roots and wooden boardwalks, as these will likely still be slippery,’ said WSAR spokesperson David Nel.
Later on Saturday afternoon, a team from the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter flew to Montagu after a trail runner fell while descending a steep section of the Cogmanskloof Trail.
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The 47-year-old trail runner was taking part in the Montagu Mountain Mania trail running event when she fell and injured herself.
A passing runner alerted event marshals to a fellow participant’s fall, and they rushed to help. When they realised she could not go any further, they called the emergency number right away.
One quick-thinking event crew member used a torch to signal their location to the approaching helicopter in the mountains’ dark shadows.
Working against the clock, the helicopter crew quickly identified the flashing light on the ground, saving valuable time.
A rescue climber and a Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS paramedic were hoisted down to a location near her. She was helped into a rescue harness before being hoisted into the helicopter.
She was flown to a nearby landing zone, assisted into a waiting ambulance, and driven to the hospital.
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Picture: Brent Russel / WSAR