A specialised team of hikers, medical personnel and defence force members rescued a 19-year-old European tourist in Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg.
The young hiker who was part of a group slipped and fell about 33 metres down a slope on Friday, May 2.
KZN Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Media Liaison Officer Robert McKenzie explains: “The man is believed to have slipped and fallen about three meters and then tumbled about 30 meters down a steep slope and amazingly came to a stop only about two meters from a cliff edge with a shear drop.
The other members of the group rushed to his assistance and found that he was stable but unable to walk.
So some of the members of the group returned to their resort and raised the alarm.”
By this time, evening had crept in and the foreboding weather did not allow for a helicopter to fly in the area.
Three members from the KZN Mountain Club of South Africa hiked to the injured man to assist him through the night.
Saturday rescue
Early on Saturday morning a combined rescue plan was executed and this involved members from the South African, Ezemvelo KZN, the SANDF, 15 squadron and KZN Emergency Medical Services, with co-ordination from the Air Force Operations centre and the Health Operations Centre.
“Rescue staff from the Mountain Club of South Africa and a paramedic from KZN Emergency Medical Services flew on board a SANDF Oryx helicopter to the Cathedral Peak area of the Drakensberg.
The helicopter landed near the location of the patient and rescue party, who had braved the icy night, which saw subzero temperatures. The patient was examined by the paramedic and despite several injuries was found to be stable.
He was airlifted to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban, where he was handed over to the waiting team of Doctors who continued management of the patient,” said Mr Mckenzie.