Photo Credit: Axel Erwast & Mountain Club of SA Search and Rescue
One of the biggest rescue operations the Western Cape has seen this season happened on Sunday. A student hiker who is lucky to have survived is safe because of it.
Western Cape, South Africa (27 April 2026) – A group of students from Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Campus headed out for a Sunday hike along the Elands River in Du Toitskloof. It was supposed to be a good day out, but then the rain came.
The cold front that swept across the Western Cape over the weekend brought heavy downpour and the river they had crossed easily earlier that day was rising fast and flooding the only trail back to their vehicles.
“Retracing their steps, three of the students were able to cross the river, which by this stage was already dangerously high. However, while attempting to cross, the fourth student lost his footing and nearly got swept away; and unfortunately, in the process, he also lost his backpack and all his equipment. Realising the seriousness of the situation, his friends split up, with one staying behind and the others calling for help.” shared the Mountain Club of SA – Search And Rescue, describing what happened.
Photo Credit: Mountain Club of SA Search and Rescue
The same cold front that dropped the first snow of winter on the surrounding mountains also sent temperatures plummeting in the valley below. The student was stuck on a small stretch of riverbank, inches from churning floodwater, with no dry clothes, no shelter, no geara nd a high risk of hypothermia.
“The hiker was out in the relentless cold, with no equipment or shelter, only the drenched clothes he wore.”
The call for help triggered a massive response. All the heroes rallied. Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) coordinated a large-scale operation, with teams from EMS, SARZA, Cape Nature rangers, SAPS SAR and four MSAR crews all making the 4km hike along the trail to get to the opposite bank. Unfortunately, the trail itself had flooded by then.
“By this time, parts of the trail which follow the river course were also flooded, and the teams had to bypass sections by scrambling up and over the cliffs that hug the river. During the night, several attempts by the swiftwater rescuers to cross the river in the dark had to be halted due to the dangerous conditions, and the team was forced to wait for the river level to drop. The din of the raging river prevented any communication with the students. Frustratingly, an attempt by another team to reach the stranded hiker by finding a way on the opposite riverbank was also unsuccessful.”
Photo Credit: Mountain Club of SA Search and Rescue
At the Du Toitskloof Lodge, a joint operations centre was set up by teams from EMS, SAPS, SARZA, HAMNET and MSAR, with a radio relay positioned up the valley to keep everyone connected. They waited and kept trying, nobody went home.
In the early hours of Monday morning, the river finally started to ease. Rescuers were able to partially cross and throw a line over and that brought great relief to the distressed hiker. They pulled a dry bag across to him, packed with a two-way radio and other essentials like warm dry clothing, hot fluids and energy snacks. He was still stranded, but he wasn’t alone anymore and he wasn’t freezing in wet clothes.
“At first light, the improving conditions and lifting low cloud allowed the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter to be deployed and fly into the Du Toit Kloof valley, skirting the low cloud by routing the long way around via Tulbagh. The hiker was safely airlifted to a nearby landing zone at the Du Kloof Lodge, where paramedics assessed him and then transported him to the hospital for further care.”
By the grace of all that is good, the student was lucky to survive.
Photo Credit: Axel Erwast
Mountain Club of SA – Search And Rescue, whose members were part of the rescue, had something important to say in the aftermath, worth noting now as we head into winter.
“On their own, either heavy rain or cold weather can be hazardous, but in combination, they can be lethal, as was nearly the case here. We advise that each member of a hiking group carry the 10 essentials. Do not attempt to cross flooded rivers; rather, shelter in place and wait for river levels to drop.”
Every person who spent a sleepless night on that wet mountain trying to bring this young man home – including the swiftwater teams, the helicopter crew, the friend who stayed behind on the riverbank – all of them, are the good things.
Please be safe on the trails. Take the weather into consideration. Pack your essentials. Save WSAR’s emergency number – it’s 021 937 0300.
Sources: Linked above.
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