Some of the members of the rescue unit were called in as far as Middelburg, because of the technical skill required to perform such a rope rescue.

“You could smell blood when you got close to the shaft. It was clear that the woman was seriously injured.”

A paramedic, trained in rope rescue, was sent down the 15 metres deep shaft to stabilize the patient before they were carefully hoisted up together.

The woman is believed to have shattered a femur (thigh bone), both her ankles and possibly her pelvis. She was rushed to hospital.

The woman, who was part of a team of wood cutters working in the plantation, fell into the shaft which was covered with pine needles and grass.

Mine shafts like these, some made more than a century ago by pilgrims looking for gold, are common in the area and creates a huge safety hazard.

It is believed that many of them are still frequented today, by illegal miners searching for riches.

Read related stories here:

Breaking News: Man thrown down by mine shaft by hi-jackers

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