A few hikers have been rescued by the Wilderness Search and Rescue team after the groups got lost during their respective hikes. A safety warning has now been issued.
Three hikers were rescued over the weekend
As the time for hiking becomes more prominent in December, many hikers are now planning their routes and taking their long-awaited walks in the mountain. However, a few groups have found themselves in some dangerous predicaments.
A 68-year-old man found himself deserted on the mountain this weekend. After he became disoriented through the mist during his hike. As a result, he had to sleep on the mountain until help came along.
The man reportedly went for a hike on Friday and was eventually located on a cliff above Porterville on Saturday afternoon.
Staying safe on a hike
At this time, the Wilderness Search and Rescue team has urged mountain lovers to save their emergency number when considering a hike. They also shared that keeping enough water, and hiking on cooler days are recommended during this time.
The rescue team has so far rescued three separate hikers over the past weekend. On Sunday, WSAR received a call to rescue a fallen hiker on Table Mountain. The hiker reportedly fell at least 5m on the mountain and injured himself. He was hoisted to safety by helicopter and taken to the hospital.
In a separate incident, an 85-year-old man also fell while going down Platteklip Gorge on Sunday. He called for help but couldn’t walk the rest of the way as a result of his injuries. He was rescued by helicopter.
As a result of these rescues, hikers are encouraged to save the WSAR’s emergency number on their phones in case of similar situations occurring. It is also in their best interest to plan hikes thoroughly and keep enough water during the hikes.
The WSAR emergency number is 021 937 0300.
Source: News24