#IAmWildernessSafe – are you?
Much drama this Sunday morning when our hiking group – minus our family for a variety of reasons – went out and about on the front face of Table Mountain and up to the saddle of Devil’s Peak. The guys that were out on Sunday aren’t super athletes, but they are seasoned outdoorspeople and regular hikers. And they were hiking well within their means and abilities, actually having changed routes the night before because of concerns over how difficult their original plans might have been in the less than perfect weather.
Sensible people.
And then, one of our friends fell about 15 metres off the path and down the mountain. I got a call at about 10:20 asking for help, and I was able to share the Wilderness Search & Rescue (WSAR) emergency number and advise over the phone on a tiny bit of first aid, but it was unpleasant not being able to be there and be hands on to assist.
Because this wasn’t a slip and slide, this was a proper fall from height, and required rescuers and paramedics to be flown in and winched down, such was the terrain. Here’s what they were dealing with:
Those are a couple of the hiking group in front of the helicopter on the right. That’s where she fell from, that’s what she went over, and she’s some distance down underneath the flying man. Chilling to see it like this.
The air ambulance and the Wilderness Search & Rescue teams were really organised, well-trained and efficient. They stabilised her – while attaching themselves to the mountainside, such was the precarious position of the rescue – and then got her up and away…
… and down to the waiting ambulance on Tafelberg Road. We were able to get there to help the rest of the group back home, while her husband followed her to hospital.
Following some surgery this morning, she’s now out of danger, and thankfully – amazingly – she seems to have been extremely lucky. Notwithstanding that she has some serious injuries, given the situation, it could have been so much worse, and she’s expected to make a full – if rather long – recovery.
It’s worth remembering that these things can happen to anyone, and it’s worth knowing what to do should they happen to you. The Wilderness Search & Rescue emergency number is:
021 937 0300
If you’re a local, save it in your phone now. And if you’re not a local, then find your local number and save it in your phone now. You never know when you might need it, and you don’t want to be struggling to try and find it when you do.
We’re really grateful for the help of all the crew who turned out to assist our friend:
But as they point out: The best rescue is one that doesn’t need to happen.
WSAR have a great guide for making sure that you are prepared and safe for your hike. There are some really important points on there to consider. But remember, even if you follow all of that advice, accidents can still happen, as was the case on Sunday. So be prepared.
If you want to donate to WSAR, here are their details. And if you have Snapscan, you can use the QR code below to help out – every cent counts:
Photos from WSAR’s Facebook post.
Thanks again, guys!