Cape Town – A 38-year-old German tourist and his partner spent the night stranded on a dangerous coastal trail near Hout Bay after the man injured his ankle while hiking.
The couple had been hiking from Llandudno towards the Boss 400 shipwreck on Sunday when the man began struggling to walk.
They had been using an online navigation app which did not accurately reflect the current condition of the trail, according to Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR).
Parts of the route were overgrown and difficult to navigate, with some sections described as hazardous.
After the injury, the exhausted couple turned back towards Llandudno but reached a particularly difficult section of the trail and called for help late on Sunday afternoon.
WSAR teams, Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedics and SANParks Table Mountain National Park rangers responded.
However, strong winds, difficult terrain and fading light made it unsafe to bring the hikers down that night.
Rescuers decided to stay with the couple overnight while additional equipment was brought to the scene.
Specialist WSAR trail runners carried tents, sleeping bags and other essential equipment to the stranded hikers.
A helicopter extraction was attempted shortly after 8am on Monday, but strong winds made the operation unsafe and the plan was abandoned.
Rescuers then changed their approach.
The injured man was carefully lowered about 60 metres down granite slabs towards the coastline, where National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) teams were waiting with rescue boats.
The two hikers were then taken one at a time in a small inflatable canoe to the waiting boats before being transported safely to Hout Bay.
The rescue operation was completed shortly after midday, with all the rescue teams safely off the trail.
WSAR spokesperson David Nel said the operation showed the importance of rescue teams being able to adapt when conditions change.
“This rescue was a great example of what collaboration looks like,” Nel said.
He said the teams had to find an alternative after strong winds prevented the planned helicopter extraction.
Nel also warned hikers about the condition of the coastal trail.
“The trail along this stretch of coastline is in particularly treacherous condition, with areas that are overgrown and virtually impassable,” he said.
He added that there had also been reports of crime in the area and advised hikers to avoid the route.
The hikers were brought to safety without further incident, while the injured man was assessed by an EMS paramedic and was in a stable condition.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Facebook/ WSAR
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
