WSAR rescues German hiker after overnight operation near Hout Bay
According to WSAR, the tourist and his partner had been following an online navigation app that did not reflect the current condition of the trail.
Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams in the Western Cape conducted a nighttime operation to rescue two foreign hikers who became stranded near the Boss 400 wreck. The incident involved a 38-year-old German visitor and his partner, who were on a coastal hike from Llandudno to Hout Bay. The pair had been relying on an online navigation app, which proved inaccurate, as sections of the trail were overgrown and hazardous.
After the German hiker injured his ankle, the pair decided to turn back and called for emergency assistance.
The WSAR team, which included Western Cape Government Health and Wellness, EMS paramedics, and Table Mountain SANParks rangers, was promptly deployed to assist the hikers. Given the treacherous terrain, strong winds, and fading daylight, the rescue team opted to keep the hikers on the trail overnight for safety reasons. The night was spent at an improvised campsite on mountainous terrain, with the team carrying up essential gear such as tents and sleeping bags.
After a plan to extract the hikers by helicopter was deemed unsafe due to strong winds, the rescue team carefully lowered the injured hiker about 60 meters down the granite slabs to the coastline. National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) teams were stationed with rescue boats, which then floated the two hikers one at a time out to safety in small inflatable canoes.
The entire rescue operation concluded shortly after 12pm on Monday, with all teams safely off the trail. WSAR spokesperson David Nel emphasized the challenging conditions of the trail, warning hikers to avoid the area due to its dangerous state and reported criminal activity.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
