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PLATTEKLIP RESCUE: 25 OCTOBER 2002D39,
D42, and D46 responded to a call for assistance in the rescue of a woman with
unspecified injuries in Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain.
On arrival in Tafelberg Road, personnel were briefed that a paramedic was
already in attendance, and a chopper evacuation using SKYMED 2 performed.
The patient was one Hilda Bertrands, a 42-year-old engineering lecturer
from Antwerp, Germany. She had
taken the cable car to the summit with 15 of her students and descended
Platteklip Gorge. Unfortunately,
she slipped and fell, sustaining multiple fractures to her left leg. Mrs
Bertrands was splinted, stabilised and packaged on the Troll-Alphen stretcher
and airlifted from the Gorge down to Tafelberg Road, where she was transferred
to a waiting ambulance and treated at Cape Town Medi-Clinic. The success of
using the newly acquired helicopter for such tactically short rescue missions
was very apparent in the benefits in patient comfort gained on this rescue. Ross Hofmeyr, D42
Lion’s Head Rescue (WSAR Op): 29 September 2002A request for assistance was received from the WSAR
Peninsula Cell duty manager, Kevin Tromp. D38, D42 and D46 responded to a
page issued at 1343B. All three DSAR personnel reached the parking area at
the start of the trail by 1410B, and were instructed to report to search manager
Morgan Behr for briefing. A German tourist 58-year-old, Crystal Waibel, had fractured
an ankle near the summit of Lion’s Head while walking with two friends.
Unfortunately, the DSAR members were unable to locate Mr Behr as he was walking
up the mountain. Several other WSAR personnel arrived at the parking area
during the next 15 minutes, but were unable to secure any further information.
At this time, Dr Wayne Smith, who was on-board for another medical call,
deployed the SKYMED 1 air ambulance. SKYMED was able to land near the
patient and she was transferred to the aircraft. SKYMED then landed at the
upper parking area on Signal Hill to allow the doctor to disembark before flying
Mrs Waibel to Vincent Pallotti Hospital. Mr Behr subsequently arrived at the normal parking area
after walking down the trail. An informal debriefing was held on-scene.
Issues of confusion regarding the staging point, communication with the search
manager and stand-down disorganisation were raised. All personnel stood
down at 1505B. Ross Hofmeyr, D42
EAST CAPE DISASTER RELIEF MISSION: 27 JULY 2002During heavy snow falls and extreme weather conditions in the Eastern Cape, D38 (Fabrice) sprang into action with a disaster relief mission. Securing 2.5 tons of cheese from Simonsberg Cheese Factory, using three 4x4's to deliver the goods to Elliot and Barkley east, 1 200km's from Cape Town. Friday, 26/07/02, 20:30 - 21:30> D38, D34 (Graham) & D96 (Peter) met
at Simonsberg Cheese factory in Stellenbosch to load the processed cheese into
their 3 vehicles and the ERT. Regrettable to packaging and volume constraints
only 966kg could be loaded in total, valued at R48 300. Included were blankets,
clothes and shoes donated by D13(Dylan), as well as blankets and clothes through
the churches' of D96. *Loading:Land Cruiser(D38):534kg Saturday, 06:00>D38 & D39(Alex), D96 & Marion, met at the N1 Motor stop outside Kuils River, Cape Town. Departing to destination Queenstown via the N1. The weather was foul, 60-80km/h winds and raindrops travelling horizontally, which made the task of dodging tree branches and other debris on the road a mission on it's own. 07:00>We met D34 & D84(Analie) at the Worcester motor stop,
enjoyed a defrosting cup of coffee, refueled and to improve weight distribution,
transfered stock between the vehicles. The road was long, very long, stopping off at Worcester, Beafort West & Three Sisters for fuel, coffee and nature calls. Travelling in convoy, having radio contact and using GPS made the trip seem shorter, despite an average speed of 84.5km/h. Having departed Cape Town in the dark and driving the whole day, the moon greeted us again. The ETA was 18:32 for Queenstown, but at 18:05 the land cruiser's rear tyre decided to have a blow-out, 20km from Q/T. Swerving all over the road, like a tub on ice, with the ERT pushing along. D38 brought us to a safe stop in the middle of the highway with nowhere to pull over, buses passing at full speed, our vehicle blocking one lane. The DSAR vehicles strobe lights were switched on, shocking the black skies, resembling a serious MVA (motor vehicle accident), directing traffic with flash lights and wearing reflective coats. After 30 mins we were back on the road, to meet the disaster managements' team outside Queenstown. We were then escorted to the Army's Commando. 19:30>We started unloading the ton of cheese via a human conveyor
belt into their holding room, lasting 45mins. We were then introduced to our
MESS (army boarding room), with 30 beds to choose from, steal spring beds topped
by a concaving sponge with natural colouring added to it... It was off to town
for a well deserved meal and an ice cold beer. We ended up in a Bed &
Breakfast for a brief sleep. Sunday, 07:00> Woke up for breakfast and to a stunning, crisp morning. The next mission was to open some doors to buy and fit a new tyre for the Land cruiser. We only departed Queens Town at 10:30, starting the 12 hour drive back to Cape Town. 13:00> Stopped off at Middleton for some minor repairs to the fuel system of the Landrover(D96) 15:03> On the road again, N10 to Colesburg via Hanover. We reached Cape Town @ 03:30 (Monday) and finally crashed into bed. Alex van Aswwegen, D39
*KEY LEARNINGS & FUEL STATS:1.Response time i.e.. Should have gone up the previous weekend. 2.Do not use a tyre with a patch on the inner tube. 3.More members = more stock capacity, 1 ton was left behind. 4.ERT: get cones, work light @ rear & bright white reverse light.(check all lights operational) 5.Car hazards are ineffective for traffic control, strobes = brilliant. 6.Confirm accommodation, especially for the ladies. 7.Be completely self-sufficient i.e.. food, tent, etc Peter, D96 (Land-Rover 110 Station Wagon):TOTAL FUEL USED = 346.04
Litres Graham, D34 (Toyota D/C):TOTAL FUEL USED = 395.014
Litres
Graham D34, Analie D84
Recovery - Table Mountain, India Venster Buttress: 16 June 2002A request for assistance was received from the WSAR
Peninsula Cell early on Sunday morning. Operatives were asked to contact
Mr Kevin Tromp, the Search Manager on scene. As Mr Tromp was unavailable
on his cell phone, D42 as DSAR standby manager elected to respond to the staging
point – the lower cableway station – in order to garner further information.
D22 and D23, as standby operatives, responded to provide
communications/logistics support. No other operatives were able to
respond. At the cableway station a swift briefing was held.
The subject, a well-known city lawyer, had fallen while ascending the India
Venster path with three friends and was in need of assistance. A stretcher
party of 8 WSAR operatives including D42 and a METRO paramedic was dispatched,
reaching the distressed party within 20 minutes. It was immediately
apparent that the walker had suffered a fatal fall. He had fallen behind
the rest of the group, who had left the path and were ascending directly up the
cliffs on India Buttress. Despite the wet rock, the group were using no
climbing equipment or rope whatsoever. After a brief discussion the body was packaged within a
body bag on the Troll Alphen stretcher. The stretcher was then carried to
the lower cableway station by the rescue team. During the debrief, the
following issues were raised:
Steenbras Gorge Recovery (WSAR Op): Sat 13 – Sun 14 April 2002On Saturday 13 April at 1435B, D15 received a call via
circuitous route regarding a possible drowning in the Steenbras River. At
this time the management team were holding a workshop at Zero 2. D48 and
D42 were immediately dispatched to the gorge as an advance party. D82 was
requested to proceed to the parking area at the bridge to act as a radio relay. D48 and D42 reached the bottom of the gorge at 1455B and
began to ascend at once. Communication with D82 was established on TAC1 on
his arrival at 1522B. In turn, D82 was in communication with D15 at Zero 2
on TAC 2/3. The party in distress was located at the second waterfall at
1525B. D42 questioned the party. A large church group had been descending the gorge in high
spirits. At around 1300B they reached the second waterfall pool and
stopped for lunch. At 1320 the subject, a 15 year old boy, had been first to
enter the water. Shortly afterwards, as several of the boys were racing
across the pool, the boy began to struggle, and despite efforts to help him,
sank rapidly. Members of the group dived to find him for 20 minutes, but
were unsuccessful. At this time one of the party ascended the ridge to
acquire a cell phone signal and tried to contact 10111. This, too, was
unsuccessful. The call subsequently went through various parties until
reaching METRO. As it was apparent that no further assistance was
possible, the majority of the party left the gorge and returned home, leaving
four persons behind, as found by D42 and D48. Once this information had been relayed to Zero 2, D48 and
D42 elected to try locate the body of the deceased. A mechanical advantage
system was created alongside the pool. D42, wearing a rope, entered the
water and free-dived in the area in which the body had been reported to sink.
Due to the depth (5-7m in this part of the pool) and low light/visibility this
search was by feel alone. The bottom of the pool is broken rock and due to
the temperature, D42 was forced to cease searching after 15 minutes. A request for a fully equipped dive team was relayed to
Zero 2. At this time, D20 and D38 were standing by in Somerset West with
their diving equipment. A helicopter insertion was suggested.
However, the SAP took the decision to assume control of the incident from this
time and D42 and D48 were instructed to mark the location of the body, take a
statement from the remaining party and escort them out of the gorge to
Gordon’s Bay SAP. At the police station D82, D48 and D42 were met by
Inspector Sutton of the SAP Diving Unit. D48 and D42 briefed Insp. Sutton
on the situation and provided a sketch map of the pool. The inspector was
very pleased with the quality of information provided. After reviewing the
party’s statements and home video footage taken at the pool, a briefing with
the SAP and DSAR personnel involved led to a decision to perform the recovery at
first light on Sunday morning. At 0730B on Sunday D13, D15, D20, D38, D39, D42 and D48 met
members of the HH-MCSA and SAP Diving Unit at Gordon’s Bay SAP. A relay
manned by D13 was set up at the Steenbras River Bridge while awaiting METRO
personnel with the stretcher. At 0916B the team of 6 DSAR members, 13
police dive unit members led by Insp. Sutton, 3 HH-MCSA members, 3 METRO
personnel and a representative from Helderberg Fire Dept. began hiking up the
gorge. Diving equipment for three divers, as well as rope-access and a
full complement of medical equipment to cope with unforeseen emergencies was
divided between the team. DSAR’s responsibility fell to guiding the dive
unit and ensuring their safety, as well as removing the body from the gorge once
recovered from the pool. Upon reaching the waterfall pool at 1000B the dive team
briefed and kitted up. Divers entered the water at 1038B. The
recovery itself was undertaken by way of a pendulum search. The body was
quickly recovered almost exactly at the marker left by D42 and packaged in
double body bags by DSAR personnel. Seven additional METRO personnel
arrived with the Troll Alphen stretcher. The SAP team then departed, led
by D38 and D20, with several METRO assistants to carry their equipment. The rest of the WSAR team remained to carry the stretcher
out of the gorge. Due to the terrain and poor condition of the path in
places this took almost two hours. A hauling and belay system had to be
used at one point where the path climbs a steep section of bare rock. This
accomplished, the SAP photographer met the stretcher party shortly before
reaching the bridge. As the photographer required on-scene images, the
body bags had to be opened. This proved a dangerous exercise – the
rescue team, cut and scratched by bushes in the gorge, was exposed to body
fluids. Suitable full-length gloves will have to be provided in the
future. A second hauling system was used to bring the stretcher up
onto the bridge while traffic officers held back vehicles waiting to cross.
All personnel involved were debriefed and stood down at 1310B. (It is worth noting that at the time, this was the largest Wilderness SAR operation in the Winelands Cell to date - and possibly in the entire region. Some 36 personnel from 6 different organisations took part.)
GREYTON - MCGREGOR TRAIL RESCUE: 20 MARCH 2002At 1810B we received a call from D42 indicating that a
man was in difficulties on the Greyton McGregor Trail. As we know the area
well, we made our way as quickly as possible to the staging point at Genadendal
Police Station where we were to meet the rest of the team. Reinhard was co-ordinating the
callout and informed us that we were waiting for the medics from Caledon to
arrive. About 50 mins later they did arrive, and we set off. We drove as far as we could into
the mountains and then, when the jeep track became hazardous, left the vehicles
and started walking. The subject had said that he was near Breakfast Rock,
which we estimated to be about 30 minutes walk. We passed Breakfast Rock
with no sign of the subject, and walked for another hour. Just at the point when Reinhard thought he should radio for backup, we found the man. His name was Nick and he was from Port Elizabeth. He had been hiking alone when he developed cramp, which was so severe that he had been unable to continue and so had called on his cell phone for help. By the time we found him the cramp had lessened in severity, possibly due to the analgesics he had taken. He was hungry, thirsty and very cold as it was now about 2200B and he had had no food, very little water and no warm clothes with him. He was lent a jacket, given a drink and some dried fruit and we all walked back. We reached the vehicles around
2330B, after which we gave Nick a lift to his car. Robynn Hofmeyr, D41
FRONT FACE / KLOOF CORNER RESCUE: 15/16 MARCH 2002 (WASR OP)At 2045B, during the WSAR training weekend, a call was
received pertaining to a group stuck below the upper cableway station on Table
Mountain. An individual at the Kloof Nek forestry station had noticed
lights flashing on the mountain and heard what he thought were shouts of
distress. METRO Control contacted Kevin Tromp who chose to dispatch a team
to investigate. Garth Moys (METRO paramedic, field leader), Johan Bender
(WSAR) with Sparky (rescue dog), Morgan Behr (WSAR) three Ukuvuka operatives and
D42 under Kevin’s control descended the mountain and drove to the lower cable
way station. A cable car was used to convey the team up the mountain.
At the 900m level the car was stopped so that a visual search could be made.
D42 spotted a light flashing on the Kloof Corner buttress. Vocal contact
was made. The lost persons were uninjured, and were instructed to stay
still. The team ascended in the car to the upper station,
disembarked and descended to the top of Kloof Corner via Fountain Ravine and
Fountain Ledge. Progress was slow down the buttress due to the very rugged
nature of the terrain and the need to belay Sparky down the rock pitches.
The team reached the lost hikers at 2345B. The two young men, tourists from the United Kingdom, had
met at the Backpacker’s Lodge and decided to climb the mountain. Some
one had advised them that an ascent of the mountain would take 45 minutes, or a
two-hour round trip. Consequently, the two set off from Tafelberg Road at
1600B with only jerseys and water in a small daypack. The climb had (not
surprisingly) taken them longer than they had envisioned, and the terrain on
Kloof Corner (which requires much B-grade scrambling and three rock pitches,
with chains in place) had taken its toll. They were forced to beat a hasty
retreat after sundown caught them searching for the chain on the third rock
pitch, but were unable to relocate the second chain in the dark.
Fortunately the night was very warm with no wind. As the hikers were in good condition (especially after a
meal of D42’s energy bars!) it was decided to walk off the mountain down Kloof
Corner. The group proceeded slowly, and it was necessary to belay down the
rock pitches. This particular route is only advisable for experienced
hikers in the daytime, and very difficult in the dark. To avoid the last
rock pitch above the contour path, the team bushwhacked across to the India
Ravine path. At 0300B all personnel reached Tafelberg Road. The
rescued pair was very grateful for a lift back to the Backpacker’s Lodge!
Congratulations must go to the Ukuvuka guys who performed exceptionally on their
first rescue. The team returned to the Back Table at 0345B, just in time to start the rescue simulation. (See report under “Training”) Ross Hofmeyr, D42
PLATTEKLIP GORGE RESCUE: 17 FEBRUARY 2002 (WSAR OP)A callout was issued at 1505B requesting assistance for a
woman in “respiratory distress” in Platteklip Gorge. D38, D39 and D42
responded. The staging point was set as the Lower Cableway Station on
Tafelberg Road, WSAR manager and liaison officer Kevin Tromp in attendance. D42 arrived at the staging point at 1525B; D38 and D39 were
due to arrive as soon as possible. A rescue for a man with a broken ankle
was taking place simultaneously in Echo Valley. Due to the urgency of our
call (respiratory distress) Kevin requested D42 and Johan Bender (SAPS/High
Angle) to proceed as quickly as possible – a METRO paramedic and stretcher
team of CNC personnel would follow. Johan and D42 reached Platteklip Gorge at 1530B and began
to ascend immediately (hence the importance of having you rucksack packed for
deployment when on standby!) This advance party reached the patient at the
800m level by 1550B. The patient was assessed by D42 – a 57 year-old
female tourist from the United Kingdom who had fallen and sustained blunt trauma
to her chest. She had fractured her left ribs 8 and 9, and possibly rib 10
on the anterolateral aspect. Although the pain was considerable, she was
in a stable condition with clear bilateral air entry and no abnormal breath
sounds. The arrival of the paramedic and stretcher team was awaited. On arrival, the METRO paramedic reassessed the patient and on consultation with Dr Wayne Smith established an intravenous line and administered morphine for pain relief. Oxygen was provided via a facemask. The patient was packaged on a Troll Alphen stretcher and carefully carried down the mountain. D38 and D39 were met en-route to assist with the carryout. At Tafelberg Road the patient was transferred to METRO 1 and conveyed to Cape Town’s Medi-Clinic. All personnel stood down at 1840B. Ross Hofmeyr, D42
SUICIDE GORGE RESCUE: 27 JANUARY 2003Pager call at 23H50 on Sunday the 27 January 2002 followed by a telephone call from Zero 2. Field operatives were requested to search for an injured and missing person in the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve, last known location was the Suicide/Riviersonderend canyon. D48, D13 and D38 were able to respond as field ops with D22, D23 and D96 as 4 x 4 ops. D48 and D38 met at Zero 2 for the briefing within 30 minutes of the call out. We were to meet the remainder of the team at Nuweberg CNC station. At 01H00 we all met at Nuweberg where we proceeded with the SAR plan:
The plan was to send the field party up through the gorge from the "Wall" towards the junction. As it was unknown whether the person was able to make progress down the gorge nor how far he potentially could have got, it was decided by the operations manager D15 to progress in this manner. At 02H00 the fields operators left from the "Wall" in search of the missing person. We were fortunate enough that it was a full moon and clear skies. The temperature was roughly 20°C with low to no wind effect. Initial progress was very slow as the terrain was very rocky and at times treacherous. Our path through the canyon consisted mainly of river boulders criss-crossed at times by streams and rock pools. When encountering the rock pools we were forced to climb the side cliffs in order to progress through to the upper pools. The search modus operandi consisted of calling out the persons name, stopping to listen for a possible reply and then doing a quick scan of the canyon as far as our head lights permitted. We repeated these motions approximately every ten minutes . Radio communication on TAC 2 was fair to good initially but then got better once we were over half way through the gorge. We then were able to make use of both TAC 2 and the Relay on TAC 1. We were in communication with the base station at all times. By 06H00 we had reached the fork in the canyon without sighting the missing person. Initial concern from the Ops manager was that our progress was too slow. This was not solely due to the nature of the terrain, but also due to the varying levels of fitness of the team members. It was only at the end of the SAR operation that we found out that one of the METRO members was scared of heights and had twisted his ankle without notifying the rest of the team. This could have jeopardised the remaining team members?! At 06H30 we were requested by the Ops manager to continue our search up the main fork of the canyon. At 07H20 the missing person was located at the base of the first main pool in the canyon. He was overwhelmed with joy and could not stop thanking us for having found him. The patients status was yellow with a fractured ankle and suffering from hypothermia. He was treated immediately and preped for extraction. It was evident by our slow progress through the canyon as well as the stature of the patient that an overland extraction would not be feasible. The Ops Manager requested assistance from SAAF 22 squadron for a Helilift out of the area. At 09H50 the patient was extracted with the aid of an Allouett helicopter to the Base station at Nuweberg. He was transported via road Ambulance to Tygerberg hospital for further treatment. He was discharged later on that day. The rest of the team were extracted in pairs and dropped off at the base station where we were welcomed with hot mugs of coffee in the pre - debriefing room. All in all we had achieved a successful SAR with difficult terrain and at night. This was achieved in less than 10 hours from the time of the call-out to the patient being stabilised and in the safety of the base station. This SAR was done with team work from three different organisations under the banner of WSAR. It is great to be a member of the team. Thanks to all that participated!. A point of note is the e-mail letter of thanks that we received from the patient the next day, reinforcing his gratitude for the volunteer work we do: "There are no words that could describe what I felt when I sow the men form Search and Rescue. After spending a night in those cliffs not knowing if there is someone coming for you or not, it is amazing feeling to see some smiling happy faces. From the moment they arrived they where professionaland helpful, explaining every thing that was going to happen from that point,and always concerned about my well-being. The men from Metro Rescue treated me as soon as they arrived, helping with the pain and dehydration. Even giving me a smoke after spending a night with out. It is amazing to know that there are people willing to risk there lives and give up there spare time and like yesterday miss work, to go and look for some silly sod that found himself walking on a terrain he does not know,with so called friends that would leave him behind. Never have I seen such dedication and respect for human live. It must bring you great joy to know that you have such professional and dedicated people working with you. Thefact that they even stayed in contact with my mother and my work to let them know how I am, was appreciated, since my mother was beside herself with worry. As I said there are no words to express my gratitude for being there for me in my time of need. So all I can say is that I admire men like that and I am really happy there are people like that in this world." Marius Mey - 33 Armenia Ave, Plattekloof Glen, Cape Town. 083 657 0618. Fabrice Stock, D38
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