SARZA Lowveld volunteers have faced a demanding week, responding to a series of challenging rescue operations ranging from mountain slopes to complex bridge recoveries that required specialised technical skills and rapid response times.

According to SARZA Lowveld, the first rescue took place on last week Wednesday, January 21, when a school camp hike turned dangerous after a learner fell 30m down a steep, technical slope.

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SARZA teams were deployed to the rugged terrain to assist medical personnel. Through a difficult extraction process, our volunteers successfully brought the hiker to safety for further medical treatment.

The team added that a second incident occurred on Long Tom Pass on Saturday on Saturday, January 24, , after a vehicle left the roadway and went down a steep embankment.

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Fortunately, the occupants were able to self-extricate with on-scene medical assistance.

On Sunday, January 25 the SARZA teams responded to a motor vehicle accident in which a car plunged off a bridge.

This rescue required advanced co-ordination, with SARZA teams performing a simultaneous high-angle rescue of two patients. Using complex rope systems, both individuals were extracted from the wreckage and brought up to the road surface.

The week’s operations included:

* Three major callouts
* One technical slope recovery
* Two high-angle extractions
* Countless volunteer hours.

SARZA members remain on standby 24/7, ready to respond when the terrain gets tough. They also extend their sincere thank you to all their partners and the dedicated medical teams who worked tirelessly alongside with them.

• This article has been amended since it was first published. Lowvelder previously named Andrew Geldenhuys as SARZA Lowveld’s chairperson, but has since been reliably informed that he no longer serves in this position. Lowvelder apologises for any confusion caused.