A female hiker who sustained a serious ankle injury during an abseiling adventure at Steenbras River Gorge Crystal Pools had to be airlifted out of danger.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon (12 March) and the woman was hospitalised for medical treatment.
Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams were the first responders to the emergency call and were assisted by the EMS Skymed Helicopter in the rescue operation.
According to WSAR spokesperson Johann Marais, the woman and her 17-year-old son were with a group of hikers as well as a few experienced guides and were out abseiling for the day. He related: “The group was well-equipped with gear, including two-way radios that they used to communicate with one another.
“As soon as emergency services were summoned a WSAR member who positioned himself along the R44 road at the point where the river meets the sea was able to communicate with the group over radio and provide instructions to the helicopter as well as a description of the clothing being worn by the hikers. “A paramedic was also on the scene and assisted with stabilising the patient before she was transported by helicopter to a parking area, after which she was taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance.”
According to onlooker Carl Ziegers, who was out with his family exploring the area that same afternoon, the helicopter made several trips to and from the site as it transported other hikers out of the danger area. “The woman told us her foot had got caught between two rocks and she slipped, which caused the injury,” he said.
“She appeared to be doing okay.”
Marais confirmed the woman was a resident of Worcester and had sustained only the ankle injury.
