Cape Town - Cape Town was a hive of rescue activity as hikers took to the mountains in the sweltering heat.
On Monday, the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter was dispatched to assist with several rescues, together with Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) teams.
In one case, hikers had to be airlifted from Platteklip Gorge, another was airlifted from Hout Bay, and four hikers had to be extracted and airlifted from the Diagonal hiking trail in Camps Bay. In most cases, the patients suffered from dehydration and some had collapsed on the mountains.
SA Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) spokesperson Venessa Horn said: “Cape Town’s Tweede Nuwejaar celebration has been a very busy day with rescues for the Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter.
“Three mountains rescues and one primary call on Seaforth Beach were conducted consecutively on Monday, keeping rescue crews extremely busy.”
Horn said a 2-year-old patient had to be airlifted from Seaforth Beach, Simon’s Town, to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital due to a medical condition.
Western Cape government search and rescue teams also responded to 17 incidents over the New Year weekend, of which nine were on Table Mountain.
WSAR spokesperson David Nel said they had assisted in at least 12 rescue operations across the province between December 31 and January 2.
“Of the 12 incidents, at least nine rescue operations involved tourists. A total of 14 tourists, local and international, were assisted by WSAR over the New Year’s weekend.
“Among the rescues, only three did not occur on Table Mountain and teams were called to Platteklip Gorge on three separate occasions for patients struggling with the higher temperatures,” Nel said.
Traditionally, higher temperatures were experienced in January, February and March, Nel said, and he appealed to all wilderness enthusiasts to plan appropriately, avoid hiking in the hottest hours of the day, carry more water than normal and save the WSAR emergency contact number 021 937 0300 on their phones.
Horn said: “To be able to hike during high temperatures, you need to be very fit, acclimatised to high heat conditions, well prepared in terms of appropriate clothing (sun protection and cooling) and able to carry more water than you would need to under more moderate conditions.”
While many incidents could be avoided through careful planning, preparation and sound decision-making, the sea and mountains remained hazardous areas.
“The AMS team remains on high alert,” Horn said.
“We anticipate that there will be a number of rescues due to the increased number of people using the Western Cape mountains and beaches,” Horn said.
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