On Sunday, challenging conditions in the mountains led to two back-to-back helicopter-assisted rescues, highlighting how quickly a routine hike can turn into an emergency.
The first call came from a peak between Hermanus and Stanford, where an 83-year-old British hiker collapsed while hiking with a group of five in hot conditions. A small rescue team, including a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic, was flown to the scene.
The hiker was treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion, then flown to a nearby landing zone where an ambulance transported him to hospital.
This incident was concluded at 13h09.
While Overberg teams were on this call, rescuers near Ceres were responding to reports of an injured hiker on the Witels hiking trail, a multi-day route through rugged and scenic terrain near Ceres, featuring steep canyons, rocky paths, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
On day four of the hike, a 24-year-old hiker slipped and injured his…
