Drakensberg hiker mountain rescue

An injured 60-year old hiker who took a wrong turn on Gray’s pass in the Central Drakensberg was airlifted to safety in a skilled rescue operation at the weekend.

Drakensberg Hiker Rescue Latest: SA Airforce flies in to assist

A 60-year old injured hiker who took a wrong turn down a treacherous gully on Gray’s Pass was airlifted to hospital at the weekend.

Drakensberg hiker mountain rescue

An injured 60-year old hiker who took a wrong turn on Gray’s pass in the Central Drakensberg was airlifted to safety in a skilled rescue operation at the weekend.

A team of skilled mountain rescue volunteers together with members of the SA Airforce and Westline Aviation managed to safely rescue an injured hiker who had got stuck in a treacherous gully on Gray’s Pass in the central Drakensberg at the weekend.

Rescue workers had to begin the search in fading light on Friday and worked through the night, initially struggling to reach the hiker, who had continued to descend the gully.

The hiker took a wrong turn which is an easy mistake to make when hiking Gray’s Pass in the Drakensberg. Picture: Facebook/Mountain Club, KZN Search & Rescue

According to a Facebook post by Gavin Raubenheimer, convenor of  Mountain Club, KZN Search & Rescue, the team received the call for help in the late afternoon on Friday 9 April.

Team set in motion for Drakensberg hiker mountain rescue

“The mountain rescue team from the KZN Section of the Mountain Club of SA received a call for help from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife late in the afternoon of the 9th of April,” Raubenheimer said.

“A privately guided hiking party with a 60-year-old male hiker from the Western Cape had taken a wrong route when descending Gray’s Pass. The subject had fallen and sustained head injuries and was located at approximately 2800m.”

Grays pass is located in the Monk’s Cowl area of the Central Drakensberg, and although it is a short distance, it is a difficult hike.

Raubenheimer said a joint operation between KZN Wildlife, The Mountain Club, Westline Aviation and the South African Air Force was quickly set in motion to rescue the injured hiker.

Mountain rescuers search in the dark for hiker

“Two experienced rangers, one of whom is a paramedic, were soon airlifted to the top of the Drakensberg. They then descended a rough and dangerous gully near the top of the pass as they could see torchlights far below. Unfortunately, the patient also began moving down the gully,” Raubenheimer said.

“They carried on descending until midnight but were unable to reach the patient. At first light, they managed to carry on descending and after a short abseil eventually reached the patient and were able to give medical help.”