Western Cape rescue teams respond to multiple incidents in a single day

Wilderness Search And Rescue (Wilderness Search And Rescue) teams were stretched across the Western Cape on Sunday as four separate incidents pushed January’s rescue tally beyond the total number of callouts recorded for the same month last year.

“Already more callouts than January 2025,” said WSAR spokesperson David Nel, after teams worked from early morning through to the early hours of Monday.

Sunday proved particularly demanding, with coordinated responses required from ground teams, air support and multiple partner agencies. WSAR has now responded to 24 incidents so far this month, exceeding the total number of callouts recorded during January 2025.

“Days like this highlight the commitment, professionalism and quiet resilience of our rescue teams,” Nel said. “We extend sincere thanks to every team member who responded across multiple incidents, long hours, difficult terrain and into the early hours of the morning. Your readiness to step away from families, work and rest, often at short notice, makes these outcomes possible.”

The most serious incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon in the Olifants River Mountains behind Porterville, where a rescue helicopter from the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS Air Mercy Service was dispatched as part of a multi-agency response coordinated by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre. A crashed paraglider was located deceased and airlifted to a nearby landing zone, where he was handed over to the South African Police Service. The operation concluded at 4.

Earlier on Sunday morning, WSAR teams responded alongside SANParks rangers, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement, and Fire and Rescue services after a 40-year-old law enforcement officer fell while patrolling the Pipe Track below Woody Buttress on Table Mountain. She was treated on scene by an EMS paramedic, transported down the trail in a specialised rescue vehicle and later taken to hospital by ambulance. The incident was concluded shortly after midday.

Later that afternoon, two young hikers who had taken a wrong turn in the Helderberg Nature Reserve correctly contacted the emergency number after realising they could not safely find their way down. WSAR guided them telephonically to a safe meeting point, where they were collected and returned to the parking area. That incident ended at 4.57pm.

The final callout stretched late into the night on Table Mountain after four Belgian visitors missed the last cable car at the upper cable station when strong winds disrupted the service. During the call, rescuers were also alerted to a second group of six hikers — aged between six and 70, visiting from Ireland, Germany and Turkey — who were also stranded. WSAR teams were dispatched to assist both groups, supporting hikers descending Platteklip Gorge and escorting others from near the upper cable station. All hikers and rescuers were safely off the mountain shortly before 2.30am on Monday, after a long and physically demanding operation.

With callouts continuing to rise, WSAR urged outdoor enthusiasts to plan activities carefully, allow enough time to return before nightfall, carry a torch, check weather conditions and always pack an extra warm layer.

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Cape Argus