After a missing hiker was found stuck along the tricky trail Skeleton Gorge, Good Samaritan hikers helped get her to safety.
Skeleton Gorge, South Africa (04 July, 2023) — Thanks to the vigilance of two Good Samaritan hikers exploring Skeleton Gorge, an injured traveller who’d been reported missing was found!
Over the weekend, the 22-year-old visitor trekking solo had plans to travel from the Great Gorge to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. As anyone who has hiked Skeleton Gorge knows, the trail is known for being tricky and slippery, which unfortunately landed the tourist hiker in an unfortunate position.
Whilst attempting to descend a ladder in the Gorge she slipped and fall, injuring herself to a state where she couldn’t continue the journey.
Luckily, two other hikers came across her struggle and called for help immediately. Though it’s unclear how long she was trapped for, it was a great stroke of luck that the hikers passed by when they did!
After their paths crossed, the Good Samaritan hikers realised there was little they could do to help the injured explorer and so they quickly contacted the Wilderness Search and Rescue for professional assistance.
Unknowingly to those on the trail, the injured visitor had also been reported missing on Table Mountain; making her finding that much more of a relief.
As coordinator Tim Lundy shares:
“The patient information sounded similar, and once team members found the injured hiker in Skeleton Gorge, we were able to confirm that she was the person who’d been reported missing.”
Thanks to the strangers who found her and the teams, the missing trailblazer was found and on her way to healing in the same breath shortly after midnight.
“She’s incredibly lucky and we thank the Good Samaritans for their kind actions.
“This incident illustrates how important it is that everyone knows how to contact Wilderness Search And Rescue in any wilderness emergency. A big thank you to our teams of rescuers who continue to contribute to wilderness safety in the Western Cape. We wish the patient a speedy recovery”, concluded WSAR Spokesperson David Nel.
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