Three rescues on Table Mountain highlight safety risks for hikers
Three rescue callouts in one weekend highlight the rising risks facing unprepared hikers on Table Mountain.
Image: Wesley New/ WSAR
The Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams were kept busy this past weekend as three separate incidents on Table Mountain underscored ongoing safety concerns for hikers.
A series of callouts between Saturday afternoon and the early hours of Monday morning highlighted how quickly conditions on the mountain can shift, catching visitors off guard and forcing rescuers into rapid response.
The first incident occurred on the Three Firs Trail above Camps Bay, where a British hiker suffered a panic attack on an exposed section of the route. His wife alerted authorities, but before WSAR teams reached them, the pair managed to retreat cautiously to the Pipe Track. They confirmed their safe return at 12:30pm, and rescuers were stood down.
A few hours later, rescue teams were dispatched to Platteklip Gorge, the mountain’s busiest — and often underestimated — route. A 66-year-old visitor from Northern Ireland, hiking with a group of six, became exhausted during a late-afternoon ascent. WSAR members and Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedics were transported to the summit by cable car, then moved down the trail to treat her. She was given water and electrolytes before being assisted back to the upper cable station. The group was safely off the mountain by 5:25pm.
The most demanding operation unfolded on Sunday night, when three Dutch students were reported stranded at the Upper Cable Station after a late start up Skeleton Gorge. By the time they reached the top, daylight had faded and the cableway had closed. A WSAR team, supported by SANParks rangers, accessed the area via the Back Table, providing the students with warm clothing and torches before escorting them to waiting vehicles at Constantia Nek. The rescue concluded at 1:15am.
Authorities say the incidents serve as a reminder that even popular routes can become hazardous without adequate preparation, especially during late starts and rising summer temperatures.
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