A carefully coordinated technical operation saw rescuers brave vertical cliffs in a daring abseil to reach two young hikers whose adventure found them stranded on a tiny ledge just inches from tragedy.
Cape Town, South Africa (29 April 2026) – A planned adventure up Table Mountain turned into a near-death experience when two young hikers got stuck on the cliffs above the Devil’s Peak contour path.
After departing from Rhodes Memorial at 1:00 p.m last Friday, the pair, aged 20 and 22, attempted to ascend the First Waterfall Ravine – a demanding route that rises steeply from the eastern slopes.
“At some point during their ascent, the hikers decided to abandon their attempt. Instead of retreating the way they had come, they attempted to traverse out of the ravine onto the neighbouring buttress, before trying to down-climb a sheer cliff face, a decision that quickly placed them in extreme danger,” reported Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR).
The first hiker reached a stable, one-metre-wide ledge and wisely stopped there. Meanwhile, her companion slipped while trying to find a way down and ended up on a very narrow ledge, estimated at just 10cm wide. With no safe way to ascend or descend and exposed to a potentially deadly fall, he contacted emergency services through the WSAR number for urgent help.
Rescue teams, including technical rope specialists and rock climbers, were quickly dispatched. However, worsening conditions and difficult terrain made it extremely hard to reach the stranded hikers. Teams made multiple attempts to approach from above and below in an effort to establish a safe rescue line.
Describing the dangerous scene, Brent Russell, a technical rescuer and rock climber from the Mountain Club of SA – Search And Rescue, said:
“When we arrived, the situation was desperate. It looked like the male hiker was minutes from falling; he looked unstable and was already shaking.
“The rock face is made up of mud shale, a soft, brittle material that breaks easily and does not allow for safe anchor placement. It makes technical climbing and rescue extremely challenging.”
In a carefully coordinated technical operation, a rescue climber was able to climb above and abseil down to the stranded male hiker. He was swiftly secured into a harness and assisted down the remainder of the cliff to safety. The rescuer then climbed back up the rope and repeated the process for the female hiker, safely bringing her down from the ledge.
The male hiker was found unstable after standing in place on the small ledge for nearly four hours. Both individuals were also cold following their prolonged exposure on the cliff.
They carefully and quickly assisted the waiting vehicles for further assessment. The incident was concluded at 10.37 pm, with everyone safely off the mountain.
WSAR said the incident underscores the serious risks of taking shortcuts, making route-finding errors, and attempting to descend unfamiliar or exposed terrain.
“First Waterfall Ravine is not a casual hiking route. It requires experience, careful route selection, and a willingness to turn back early. Considered one of the more serious and treacherous trails on Devil’s Peak, it features a stream with waterfalls, narrow ledges with dangerous drops and steep scrambles that connect to the 700‑metre traverse near Minor Peak. The terrain is unforgiving, and conditions are made significantly worse when wet or following rain.”
WSAR extends its thanks to all responding teams, including the technical specialists whose expertise made this rescue possible.
Sources: Wilderness Search and Rescue
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