Waterfall claims tenth victim on Table Mountain

Dedicated teams of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) responded to Tafelberg Road after a hiker fell 15m from the contour path late on Wednesday morning.

The 64 year-old hiker was crossing a narrow section of the contour path between the Platteklip Gorge and India Venster hiking trails when she slipped and fell down a waterfall.

Family members were hiking with her when she fell, and immediately called the emergency number – 021 937 0300.

Teams of rescuers and medics quickly hiked up to the fallen hiker. She was assessed and treated before being placed into a stretcher.

A small team on board the Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter was flown to scene and hoisted down to a point close to the patient.

Ground teams used a technical rope system to carefully move her out of the narrow gully.

Once safely out of the gully, she was hoisted up into the helicopter.

The injured hiker was flown to a nearby landing zone and transported to hospital in an ambulance.

The incident was concluded at 14h50.

David Nel, a spokesperson for Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR), said: “This point (above the waterfall on the contour path) has developed a nasty reputation.

“We’ve seen a number of serious incidents, all concentrated in one place below the waterfall.

“Two individuals were seriously injured and five critically injured after falling from the same spot.

“A injured trail runner was flown from the same spot in August –

“Sadly, we’ve had to recover three fatalities in the same place.

“We appeal to all outdoor enthusiasts to exercise extreme caution when crossing this section of the contour path.

“We wish the patient a full recovery,” Nel said.

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• Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a network of government agencies, and civilian volunteer organisations, who partner in search and rescue.

Photos by Hendre Zoudendyk, Travis Talmarkes and Hugo Vaughan