Dedicated teams of volunteers and professionals from Wilderness Search And Rescue WSAR Western Cape responded to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden after a stranded Australian hiker called for help.
The visiting 28-year-old hiker had set out from Kirstenbosch at lunchtime on Wednesday. Following a mobile hiking app, he had made his way from the gardens up Nursery Ravine and was intending to follow the trail down Nursery Buttress.
Underestimating the challenging and wet terrain, he was significantly delayed. Realising that he was not safely able to proceed in the dark, he called the emergency number – 021 937 0300.
A small rescue team hiked up to locate the lone hiker.
His position on the rock face required a rescuer climber to scrambled up a 10m cliff. The hiker was secured in a harness, and carefully lowered down the slippery rockface to the trail below.
Once the climber had abseiled down the small cliff, the rescue party made their way back down Nursery Ravine to waiting vehicles, before being driven back to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
The incident was concluded shortly after 22h00.
According to David Nel, a spokesperson for Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR): “We’re expecting very wet and cold conditions over the next couple of days.
“These conditions will be considerably more severe in higher mountainous areas. “We urge all outdoor enthusiasts, especially snow-seekers, to be responsible and exercise extreme caution when deciding whether to head outdoors over the coming days. "If the weather predictions are accurate, there is no urgency and no need to brave the poor weather to find snow. "Based on the forecasts, there should be enough snow to last for some time after the predicted storms have passed”, said Nel.