Two German visitors spent the night on a remote stretch of the Cape Town coastline after one suffered an ankle injury and the pair found themselves struggling along a badly overgrown section of trail near the Boss 400 wreck, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The rescue, which began late on Sunday afternoon and ended shortly after midday on Monday, involved Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS, SANParks, Air Mercy Service (AMS) and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
According to WSAR Western Cape, the 38-year-old German man and his partner had planned to hike from Llandudno to Hout Bay. They were using an online navigation app which did not accurately reflect the current condition of the route.
After the man injured his ankle and became increasingly tired, the pair decided to turn back towards Llandudno. They eventually reached a particularly difficult section of the trail and called the emergency number for help. With fading light, strong winds and difficult terrain making a descent unsafe, rescuers decided the hikers would remain where they were until conditions improved.
WSAR teams stayed with the pair through the night, while specialist trail runners carried tents, sleeping bags and other equipment up the challenging route. The rescue operation changed again on Monday morning. An attempt was made shortly after 08:00 to evacuate the hikers by an EMS/AMS rescue helicopter, but strong winds made the extraction unsafe.
The helicopter plan was abandoned, and additional WSAR rescuers were brought in to carry out a technical descent instead.
The injured man was carefully lowered about 60 metres down granite slabs until he reached the coastline. NSRI crews were waiting below with rescue boats. The two hikers were then taken, one at a time, in a small inflatable canoe to the waiting vessels before being brought safely ashore at Hout Bay.
The operation was completed shortly after 12:00, with all rescuers safely off the trail. WSAR spokesperson David Nel said the incident demonstrated why different rescue organisations need to be able to adapt when conditions change.
‘Rescue operations rarely go exactly to plan, and having skilled teams and partner agencies who can adapt when conditions change makes all the difference.’
– David Nel, WSAR spokesperson
WSAR warns hikers about the route
The rescue has also renewed attention on the difficult coastal route between Llandudno and Hout Bay. According to WSAR Western Cape, the latest incident highlights the risk of relying solely on navigation apps when planning hikes in remote areas.
Nel said the trail is currently in ‘particularly treacherous condition’, with overgrown sections and areas that are virtually impassable. WSAR is also warning hikers about reported criminal incidents in the area and is advising people to avoid this particular route.
For emergencies in the wilderness, WSAR says hikers should save its emergency number: 021 937 0300.
