A dog was rescued from a crevice in a cave in Silvermine Nature Reserve on Sunday morning. The little dog, named Chloe, fell down a deep fissure in the rocks and became trapped in a small, hard-to-reach space.
The Ou Kaapse Vet Veterinary Hospital Tokai shared details of the incident in an official statement on social media: “A lovely Sunday morning hike on Silvermine turned into a nightmare after Chloe dashed into Muizenberg Caves and fell down a 5 metre fissure in the rocks. We had not planned on entering any caves and did not have any light sources or ropes to retrieve her.”
Peninsula Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams were activated after a caller reported a dog had become stuck in a cave.
“The Metro Rescue Mobile Incident Command Vehicle, Rescue Mountaineers and SANParks Visitor Safety Patrollers had responded to the area of the Kalk Bay mountains via Ou Kaapse Weg,” WSAR said in a statement.
Before rescue teams could reach the scene, however, SANParks Table Mountain National Park rangers reported that they had managed to free the dog.
Ou Kaapse Vet Veterinary Hospital Tokai thanked the rangers for their speedy efforts to save Chloe.
“A big thank you to SANParks – Table Mountain National Park for their quick response to help rescue Chloe after she fell down a fissure in the rocks by Muizenberg caves.”
The veterinary hospital stated that Chloe thankfully did not sustain any serious injuries, “and the day ended on a happy note”.
WSAR has provided some safety tips for hikers:
– Be extremely cautious when descending any stage of a route
– Please carry at least one operating cellphone in your party
– Have your dogs on a leash at all times.
Picture: Ou Kaapse Vet Veterinary Hospital Tokai