Brad Geyser, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said: “At 18h54 on Tuesday 23 June, NSRI Hout Bay were alerted following a call from Lila Zigada, from Hout Bay, requesting our assistance and reporting that she had been called by her husband Francois, 39, reporting that he, their son Nicholas, 16, and their Boston Terrier dog, Bella, had gotten into some difficulties while hiking on the Karbonkelberg hiking trail, between Llandudno and Hout Bay, and reporting that they were on a ledge, on a cliff face in the vicinity of the hiking trail, but were not able to proceed or retreat from the ledge, effectively making them trapped on the mountain.
“It appears that they had wandered off the actual hiking trail while walking in the fading light and had gotten to a point where they were unable to see a way out of their predicament once daylight had faded.
“We alerted the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and a Metro rescue team and volunteers from WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue) were activated.
“Metro Rescue requested NSRI Hout Bay to send a rescue craft to the scene to illuminate the cliff face, using spot lights, aimed at where the hikers were trapped. (Illuminating the cliff face aides the rescue team proceeding from the land side along a pathway on the cliff face – this method has been used in previous rescue operations in the same area).
“We dispatched our rescue craft Albie Matthews.
“The rescue party (Metro and WSAR) reached the casualties who were found to be safe and only requiring guidance and light to assist them out of danger and they were assisted to get back to the hiking trail path and they have been safely walked to safety in the company of the rescue team and once safely at the driving trail (at Rocket Road) they were driven to the end of Rocket Road and reunited with Lila in the parking area and they required no further assistance.”
The NSRI are urging hikers hiking on trails along our coastline to always carry adequate and emergency equipment while hiking. A referees whistle, a hand held mirror or CD disc, a torch or headlamp, communications devices with fully charged batteries, brightly coloured warm clothing, plenty of water, the correct attire and walking shoes and a hat and sunscreen.
Always let a responsible person know your departure time, your exact intended route, your arrival time. Stick to your route and check-in with the responsible person on your safe return.
Rescue operations of this nature are most common on the Karbonkelberg, near Hout Bay and on the Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail near Plettenberg Bay.
[ad#Google Adsense 234×60]
