WSAR Responds with Skill and Heart in 3 Dramatic Callouts

WSAR’s incredible rescue network answered three urgent mountain callouts this past Sunday, reminding us both of the dangers of the outdoors and the extraordinary people who risk everything to help... The post WSAR Responds with Skill and Heart in 3 Dramatic Callouts appeared first on Good Things Guy.

May 24, 2026 - 07:13

WSAR Responds with Skill and Heart in 3 Dramatic Callouts

WSAR’s incredible rescue network answered three urgent mountain callouts this past Sunday, reminding us both of the dangers of the outdoors and the extraordinary people who risk everything to help others.

Cape Town, South Africa (24 May 2026) – Three separate incidents on Table Mountain and in the Helderberg Nature Reserve on Sunday evening highlighted both the risks associated with outdoor activities and the remarkable depth of skill, coordination and capacity within the Wilderness Search And Rescue’s (WSAR) rescue network.

Injured Hiker Carried Down Platteklip Gorge

The first callout was received shortly before 4.30 pm after a 36-year-old hiker injured her ankle while descending Platteklip Gorge. The hiker reportedly jumped down a large rock step approximately one-third of the way down the trail, landing awkwardly and sustaining an ankle injury.

Unable to continue, friends of the injured hiker immediately called the WSAR emergency number.

WSAR rescuers, Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedics, SANParks Honorary Rangers, and SANParks Table Mountain National Park rangers were ferried to the top station by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway before hiking down to the patient’s location.

After being assessed and treated on scene, the patient was carefully assisted into a rescue stretcher and carried down the mountain by a large team of rescuers. She was transported to the hospital for further treatment, and the incident concluded at 10.40 pm.

Photos by Hugo Vaughan, Chris Jacobs and David Nel

Young Trail Runner Rescued After Impalement Injury

While teams were deploying to Table Mountain, a second request for assistance was received from the Helderberg Nature Reserve, where a 22-year-old trail runner had slipped while descending from West Peak, impaling his leg on an exposed metal spike.

Reserve staff responded swiftly, reaching the injured runner and safely transporting him down to the care of medics waiting at the base of the trail.

Technical Rescue Teams Support SAPS

As additional rescuers were being mobilised to assist in Platteklip Gorge, passengers aboard the cable car reported witnessing a hiker fall from a rock face on Table Mountain.

Nearby rescue teams were immediately diverted to the scene, while additional rescuers were called in to assist. Sadly, despite the rapid response, the hiker didn’t make it.

Rescuers carefully packaged the deceased into a stretcher before carrying the remains to a point below the cable car. From there, technical teams aboard the cable car were able to safely raise the stretcher from the mountain and transport the deceased to the lower cable station, where the body was handed over to SAPS officials on scene. The incident was concluded at 9.50 pm.

A Sunday of Courage and Teamwork

This trio of rescues included notable contributions by, and would not have been possible without, the teams of rescuers, medics, rangers and reserve personnel, who worked together seamlessly to ensure that every call for assistance received an urgent and professional response.

“Our sincere thanks go to all our volunteer rescuer teams, rangers, reserve personnel, SAPS, EMS and the staff of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, for their support, professionalism and teamwork throughout a challenging evening of operations,” WSAR said.

We join these brave heroes and teams in extending our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time, and wish both injured patients a speedy recovery following their ordeals.