Visiting 47-year-old hiker airlifted from the India Venster hiking trail

A visiting 47-year-old hiker was hoisted up into the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter, from the India Venster hiking trail on Table Mountain, after collapsing in the extreme heat on Saturday morning, March 30.

Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) teams spend many hours refining the skills required to safely perform these carefully co-ordinately maneuvers – as performed in this rescue.

In a well-rehearsed routine, a rescue climber double-checked all connections, then signalled to the aircraft above that the injured hiker was ready to be hoisted.

From a seated position, with her hands holding the “collar” of the rescue harness, the cable tightened and in a matter of a few seconds, the hiker was safely lifted from the mountainside up into the rescue helicopter.

The incident was concluded at 11h52.
Video by Grant Duncan-Smith

Hikers and Hiking Safety