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Three hikers all suffered damaged legs whereas mountaineering in Banhoek after baboons appeared to roll boulders down a cliff onto them.
A bunch of seven native hikers set out on a Saturday morning hike into the kloof mountains above Banhoek, exterior Stellenbosch.
After an evening within the mountains, they have been returning by way of Voltstruitkloof on Sunday – mountaineering, abseiling, leaping and navigating down the deep river gorge. After stopping for a fast lunch on Sunday afternoon, the hikers observed a big troop of baboons above them. Members of the group later reported that the baboons appeared agitated and curious concerning the people far beneath them.
Ignoring the commotion the group continued to descend the kloof.
Two members of the group had accomplished a 55m abseil from a pool in the course of a waterfall when a boulder – roughly 60kgs in weight – struck the ledge which the remaining 5 hikers have been standing on. The boulder exploded on impression – sending shards of razor sharp “shrapnel” flying horizontally by the air.
Three hikers have been struck by the deadly shards of rock and suffered damaged legs, with one struggling an open leg wound.
One other hiker was struck by a bit of rock, and knocked over an uncovered ledge, however the security rope linked to their harness prevented them from falling.
Extra rocks continued to rain down from up excessive. The hikers consider the rocks have been being dislodged by the baboons above. The mountaineering celebration huddled collectively, calming the injured amongst them, and warming them with sleeping baggage. All whereas in search of shelter from the falling rocks.
Regardless of restricted cellphone vary, a hiker managed to make an SOS name.
The Western Cape Division of Well being EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) helicopter was mobilised, with a group from Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) on board.
As soon as on the scene within the mountain gorge, the WSAR group have been lowered all the way down to the sufferers on the small ledge.
The extra significantly injured affected person was packed right into a stretcher and flown to a close-by touchdown zone. The remaining two sufferers have been hoisted from the ledge in rescue harnesses.
All three have been transported to hospital by ambulance for additional remedy.
Rescue group members remained on standby whereas the remaining 4 hikers made their manner out of the kloof.
The 2 unhurt hikers have been counseled by the rescue group for ‘remaining calm, and doing a improbable job calming and taking care of the injured.’
Based on one of many unhurt sufferers: ‘This was the third time I’ve been down this kloof and the primary time I’ve seen or heard any baboons up there.’
‘I don’t consider that the baboons have been appearing aggressively, the realm is filled with unfastened rock and particles. It’s seemingly that the rocks have been dislodged when the baboons have been following us on the ledges above.’
The rescue coordinator counseled the rescue helicopter crew for exceptionally skillful flying.
WSAR spokesperson Johann Marais stated: ‘We want the sufferers a speedy restoration.’
‘We ask that every one wilderness fans assist us by sharing the emergency contact quantity – 021 937 0300 – and share our posts on the #IAmWildernessSafe marketing campaign,’ Marais stated.
On Saturday 4 February a 54 yr previous hiker feminine hiker was additionally rescued whereas scrambling on a cliff excessive above Camps Bay.
The affected person was packaged right into a stretcher and hoisted up into the helicopter, earlier than being flown to a close-by touchdown zone and handed over to a ready ambulance. She was then pushed to hospital for additional remedy.
Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a community of presidency businesses, and civilian organisations, who companion in search and rescue.
Pictures supplied by Brent Russel and Dwayne Evans.
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