Peninsula Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) was activated on Tuesday afternoon when a caller reported witnessing a hiker falling on Lion’s Head.
“Metro Medical Rescue Technicians, Rescue Mountaineers and Rescue Climbers were dispatched to Top Road, which separates the Table Mountain National Park and the residential area of Fresnaye. The City of Cape Town Fire And Rescue Department, SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers as well as a Community Medics volunteer had already made their way up to the location of the patient by the time the first WSAR responders had arrived,” WSAR said in a statement. “Further information gathered was that multiple persons witnessed the person fall.”
On arrival at the scene of the accident, the Community Medics volunteer examined the victim who was declared deceased.
The body of the adult male, who was estimated to be in his mid-twenties, was placed on a stretcher in preparation for the carry down to the road. “The Rescue Mountaineers and Rescue Climbers, who had by then reached the scene, attached rope systems at intervals in order to maneuver the stretcher while negotiating the dense vegetation and loose terrain in the dark,” WSAR said.
By 8.30pm, the rescuers had delivered the body of the victim to the Incident Command Post, where it was handed over to the Forensics Pathology Services.
“The hiker is believed to have fallen approximately 25 meters while attempting a known climbing route. This section is located along the lower slopes of Lion’s Head above Fresnaye. It is further understood that the hiker was on his own and without any climbing gear at the time of the accident. The South African Police Services (SAPS) has opened an inquest docket concerning this incident,” WSAR said. “WSAR extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”
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