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An international tourist was rescued after collapsing from the sweltering heat while hiking on Table Mountain on Sunday morning. The Mother City has been experiencing record-breaking heat over the past week.
Rescuers from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) confirmed the incident involved a 66-year-old woman from Belgium who was hiking with her husband on the lower section of Platteklip Gorge. Fortunately, a passing trail runner from the West Coast Athletic Club stopped to help.
“The couple had walked from the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Lower Cable Station to the base of the gorge in very hot conditions when the woman suddenly began to feel weak,” WSAR said in a statement. “She sat down and briefly lost consciousness before regaining awareness and vomiting – a concerning sign of heat-related illness.”
The trail runner recognised the seriousness of the situation and immediately raised the alarm. While waiting for rescuers to arrive, she used a space blanket from her running pack to create a makeshift sun shield, helping protect the patient from further exposure to the sun. Her neck and back were also actively cooled, while they waited for assistance.
Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic assessed her condition and the woman was stabilised, before rescuers carefully piggy-backed her down the trail for further medical treatment.
The West Coast Athletic Club had recently hosted a safety talk by WSAR, during which emergency space blankets donated by Medhold Medical were distributed. WSAR thanked Medhold Medical for the donation of emergency space blankets, noting that one of them was used during the incident to assist the tourist.
The organisation said the incident highlights the importance of its safety call to action initiative, Safe My Mate.
“Whether you’re hiking, running or exploring the outdoors, looking out for one another can make all the difference,” WSAR said.
Members of the public who encounter an emergency in the mountains are urged to call 021 937 0300.
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