Mountain hiker skeleton gorge

Image via: Norbert Stallkamp

Mountain hiker collapses and dies metres from top of Skeleton Gorge

By the team the search and rescue team arrived at Skeleton Gorge, other people had been administering CPR on the mountain hiker for an hour.

Mountain hiker skeleton gorge

Image via: Norbert Stallkamp

A female mountain hiker was declared dead on Saturday morning 19 December, just 200 metres from the top of Skeleton Gorge on Table Mountain. Paramedics were sadly unable to revive the woman. Her body was later extracted by a helicopter. 

FEMALE MOUNTAIN HIKER COLLAPSES ON SKELETON GORGE 

Just after 10:20 on Saturday morning, Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) was alerted to an unconscious female mountain hiker who was about 200 meters from the top of Skeleton Gorge on Table Mountain. 

“A vehicle with two paramedics proceeded via Constantia Nek and followed the jeep track into the Back of Table Mountain to get to the top of Skeleton Gorge. In the meantime, three more vehicles and a number of operatives deployed to Constantia Nek,” said WSAR spokesperson Johan Marais. 

Marais said that by the time the hasty team reached the patient, other people reported that they had been administering CPR for about an hour. 

“The AMS emergency helicopter contracted to the Department of Health was authorised to also assist. A ground crew was deployed to the main entrance of Kirstenbosch botanical Gardens to assist the helicopter,” added Marais. 

Marais said the paramedics were not able to revive the mountain hiker. Another vehicle, together with the first team into the Back of Table Mountain, brought the rest of the hiking party down the mountain. 

“We mourn the death of a mountain hiker and extend our condolences to her family and friends,” he added. 

South African Police Service (SAPS) Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said a death inquest case had been opened for investigation by Claremont police after the body of a 43-year-old female was found in Skeleton Gorge on Saturday morning. 

“The circumstances surrounding this incident are being investigated,” said Rwexana. 

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK 

Apart from the mountain hiker, SANParks on Friday 18 December 2020, confirmed that human remains were found at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga. It said the remains were believed to be that of a field ranger that was reported missing in November. 

According to SANParks, Checkers Mashego went missing while on patrol in the Stolsneck section of the Kruger National Park last month. 

On Friday, a search party found what appeared to be human remains and SANParks equipment used by field ranger Mashego. 

“[Investigators] are combing the scene for any further clues that might shed light on what transpired. […] The area of the find has been cordoned off and is currently being searched thoroughly.”