Two novice hikers on an unfamiliar trek found themselves caught between a cliff and a hard place. The WSAR was hot on their trail, and using a drone for the first time to guide their safety, the hike ended happily.
Cape Town, South Africa (11 April, 2023) — Two novice hikers laced up for a day of exploring early on Thursday morning. They likely planned for jaw-dropping scenery, some good conversation and maybe a few photos. What they didn’t plan, was to be part of a rescue mission that’d mark a first for the Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR).
The hikers had made their way to the dams on the back of Table Mountain. Soon, they ventured into the Valley of the Red Gods and eventually, Porcupine Ravine—no mere brisk walk even for the most experienced hikers around.
Things may have looked picturesque, but the Porcupine’s spikes (cliffs) were looking more and more like an over-ambitious idea. The trail was unfamiliar, and they’d been trekking for hours at that point.
Stranded and in a hiking pickle, the pair decided to call the WSAR, who were soon hot on the trail. However, the rescue team needed some eyes from above to place the two.
In a first for the WSAR Western Cape, they used a drone from the WC government to locate the hikers and guide them back to safety.
According to the on-scene rescue coordinator, Hugo Vaughan:
“While the drone was hovering above the patients, we were able to monitor the pair in real-time. We called the hikers on their cell phone and were able to safely guide them away from the cliff and onto the path, before the rescue team met up with them.
“This is the first time that we’ve used a drone to guide hikers back to a trail and out of harm’s way. This again demonstrates how diverse and valuable this technology is.”
Although the hike-turned-mission had a happy ending, the WSAR encourages newbies to join hiking groups, and always have their friends in rescue close at hand (021 937 0300).
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