Plettenberg Bay rescue workers had their hands full this week as two hikers had to be airlifted to safety after falling and sustaining several injuries.
At about 12pm on Friday the Oudtshoorn Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS rescue helicopter was dispatched to the Otter hiking trail in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park after receiving reports that a 53-year-old man had fallen and injured himself.
Park spokesman Nandi Mgwadlamba said the man was one of three hikers who took on the 42km trail. "The hikers were already on day four of the five-day hike and were about 6km from the Oakhurst hut when the man fell and bumped his head," Mgwadlamba said.
She added rangers were sent to assist the injured man, but that emergency services had to be called to rescue him.
"Park crew assisted with providing accurate information of the location of the patient after which rescuers responded and managed to airlift him to safety. The patient was transported by road ambulance to hospital," SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) spokesman Venessa Horn said.
On Thursday May 7 a 79-year-old holidaymaker was also airlifted to safety after sustaining several injuries when he fell while hiking at the Robberg Nature reserve.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander Deon Truter said just before 1pm duty crew responded to reports of a man having suffered a head injury.
"The man is from Krugersdorp and was staying at a local caravan park on vacation," Truter said.
"We launched our sea rescue craft Ray Farnham to approach from the sea side and NSRI rescuers and Med-Life ambulance services responded by road to the reserve's parking area to hike to the scene."
On arrival they found the man in the company of two fellow hikers. "The injured man was found to be suffering a head injury and suspected fractured ribs sustained from a fall while walking on the hiking trail."
"With the injuries causing the man to experience laboured breathing, while medical treatment by paramedics commenced, the decision was taken to request support from the EMS/AMS Skymed helicopter rather than to risk further compromise to the patient by transporting him by sea or by hiking him on a stretcher to the Robberg car park. The Western Cape Government Health EMS dispatched the Skymed helicopter."
The man was airlifted to reserve's car park and transferred to a waiting Med-Life ambulance. "The patient has been transported to hospital in a stable condition for further treatment and he is expected to make a full recovery."
Yolande Stander - Garden Route Media
