An all-night operation unfolded between Sunday evening and Monday morning in a remote area of the Karbonkelberg hiking trail above Maori Bay, between Llandudno and Hout Bay, which saw an NSRI rescue craft being deployed to evacuate an injured German hiker and his wife.

The 38-year-old man injured his ankle while hiking with his partner to the Boss 400 wreck and was unable to walk safely back along the trail. According to Wilderness Search and Rescue, the couple had followed an online navigation app which did not reflect the current condition of the route, including overgrown and difficult sections.

They eventually turned back towards Llandudno but reached a particularly challenging section and called for help late on Sunday afternoon.

Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedics, Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams and SANParks Table Mountain National Park rangers responded.

By nightfall, the difficult terrain, strong winds and fading light made it unsafe to evacuate the injured hiker on foot. A helicopter evacuation was also ruled out because of the weather conditions.

The NSRI was then activated at around 6pm on Sunday and launched two rescue craft from Hout Bay. Crews reached the area in dark conditions and considered using technical rope equipment to lower the patient from the cliff to the shoreline, where he could be transferred to a rescue boat.

However, worsening sea conditions and strong winds forced the operation to be suspended.

The NSRI boats returned to Hout Bay at around 10pm, while EMS paramedics, WSAR members and SANParks rangers remained with the hikers overnight. Specialist WSAR trail runners also carried tents, sleeping bags and other equipment to the remote location.

An attempt was made to airlift the couple shortly after 8am on Monday using a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS/Air Mercy Service rescue helicopter. But a gusting wind made the operation unsafe and the helicopter extraction was abandoned.

Rescuers then changed their approach.

The injured hiker and his wife were carefully repelled about 60 metres down granite slabs to the coastline using technical rescue equipment.

NSRI crews waiting in Maori Bay then used a small inflatable rescue craft and rescue swimmers to transport the pair, one at a time, through the surf to the waiting rescue boats.

They were taken by boat to the NSRI Hout Bay base, where the injured man remained in the care of an EMS paramedic. He was in a stable condition and did not require further medical assistance before leaving with his wife.

The rescue was concluded shortly after midday on Monday.

WSAR spokesperson David Nel has praised the cooperation between the various rescue agencies, saying the operation demonstrated the importance of teams being able to adapt when conditions change.

He has also warned hikers about the condition of the trail in the area, describing sections as overgrown, hazardous and virtually impassable. The organisation says there have also been reported incidents of crime along the route and advises hikers to avoid this stretch of coastline.