Cape Town – A 20-year-old hiker was rescued after spending the night stranded on a steep cliff on Table Mountain, following a complex 14-hour operation involving specialist rope rescuers and an emergency services drone.
The solo hiker became disorientated while hiking above Newlands late on Sunday afternoon and lost the trail, leaving him unable to safely move forwards or backwards.
With darkness approaching and his cellphone battery running low, he called for help.
Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams responded and deployed specialist rope-rescue personnel from the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway’s upper station.
The Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS Drone Unit was also deployed to help locate the hiker and provide aerial imagery to rescuers.
The drone was later used to communicate directly with the stranded man and reassure him that help was on the way.
The hiker said the drone provided “some much-needed reassurance”.
“After being alone on the mountain in the darkness, hearing a voice coming from a drone was a somewhat surreal experience,” he said, adding that he briefly wondered if he was hallucinating.
Once rescuers reached the top of the cliff, a technical rescue team established a rope system and descended nearly 200 metres to reach the hiker.
He was found uninjured, secured in the rope system and lifted back to the top of the cliff.
Afterwards, he was given food and water before being escorted to a waiting vehicle and driven down the mountain.
The operation was completed shortly after 07:00 on Monday, with all rescue personnel safely off the mountain.
WSAR urged hikers to research their routes, carry enough water and ensure their phones are fully charged before setting out.
The organisation also advised hikers to share their plans with someone they trust and to turn back when conditions or terrain become too difficult.
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Picture: Facebook/ WSAR
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
