Watch: Rescue operation: 63-year-old hiker airlifted from Chapman's Peak after leg injury
A rescue helicopter hoists an injured hiker to safety during an emergency operation above Chapman's Peak.
Image: Screenshot
A 63-year-old hiker was airlifted from the Chapman's Peak Hiking Trail on Sunday morning after he reportedly heard a loud snap when he stepped awkwardly, leaving him unable to continue.
According to Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), the man’s family called the emergency number at about mid-morning after he sustained the injury on the trail.
Ground teams were dispatched and began making their way up the route, while a rescue team aboard the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) helicopter was flown directly to the scene.
The patient was assessed and stabilised on the mountain by a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness paramedic before being hoisted aboard the helicopter and flown to a nearby landing zone for further medical care.
The operation was concluded shortly before 12pm.
Rescue teams reminded hikers to wear appropriate footwear, watch their footing on uneven terrain, and ensure they carry a charged cellphone when venturing onto popular routes such as Chapman's Peak.
Authorities wished the hiker a full recovery and thanked the volunteers and emergency partners involved in the swift response.
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Cape Argus