• Call us sooner, says WSAR
• Incident 1 – Two foreign hikers guided to safety
• Incident 2 – Three foreign students stuck after sunset
• Incident 3 – Injured hiker assisted from Lion’s Head
• Very cold and wet conditions expected – outdoor enthusiasts urged to take care
• Help us promote wilderness safety – share the emergency number 021 937 0300 and the #IAmWildernessSafe Campaign
Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) Report – Wednesday May 24, 2023
Dedicated teams of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) have already responded to three incidents this week.
According to a spokesperson for WSAR, David Nel: “We’re starting to see an increase in the number of wilderness incidents involving uninjured or slightly injured patients.
“We believe that outdoor enthusiasts are starting to call for help sooner when they start to feel unsafe.
“In the past we’ve seen patients seriously injured while attempting to self-rescue, and we want to reassure everyone that we have passionate and dedicated teams ready to assist when needed.”
Incident 1
Two foreign hikers called WSAR for assistance on Monday evening. They had started their hike earlier in the day from Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and decided to call for help when it became clear that they were not going to finish their hike before sunset.
Rescuers were immediately dispatched to Table Mountain to locate and assist the pair.
A WSAR member who was trail running in the area, located the lost hikers on Smuts Track and guided them to meet the rescue team at Maclear’s Beacon.
The rescue team and patients hiked back to the upper cable station and were transported down the mountain in the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway cable car.
Incident 2
Team members were dispatched to Chapman’s Peak Drive on Tuesday evening to assist three visiting students.
The trio, believed to be in their early twenties, had hiked past the summit and stopped to watch the sunset.
Without torches, and unfamiliar with the trail, they were unable to safely find their way back down from the peak.
A drone from the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS Drone Unit was used to help locate the hikers. A rescue team hiked up the group and safely guided them back down the trail.
Incident 3
Team members were dispatched to Lion’s Head early on Wednesday morning after 19 year-old hiker, slipped and injured himself while descending from the summit.
Paramedics and SANParks – Table Mountain National Park rangers hiked up to the patient. He was assessed and treated before being assisted down the trail.
He was later transported to hospital in an ambulance.
“According to reports, we’re expecting weather conditions to deteriorate as we move closer to the weekend, with snow forecast for some areas of the Western Cape.
“We urge those intending to venture outdoors to plan accordingly and take extra precautions for the cold and wet conditions expected over the next few days.
“Always ensure you have the emergency contact number 021 937 0300 saved on your phone and call us before a small issue becomes a big incident”, Nel said.
• We rely on the generosity of others and we’re always incredibly grateful for the donations we receive. If you would like to support us – https://wsar.org.za/support-us/
• Members of the public are reminded to save and memorise the WSAR Emergency Contact Number, 021 937 0300.
• Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a network of government agencies, and civilian volunteer organisations, who partner in search and rescue.
Photos provided by Jason Collins and Tim Wege
Early SOS calls save lives of Hikers https://t.co/t2LfzhK90w #ArriveAlive #HikingSafety #SOS @WSARWesternCape pic.twitter.com/UeiOn4K641
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 26, 2023