A woman has been rescued after her car plunged 180 metres down a steep slope off Chapman’s Peak drive.
Wilderness Search and Rescue crews were alerted to the incident yesterday afternoon.
The 43 year old woman was driving towards Hout Bay when her vehicle left the road and plunged off the cliff.
Wilderness Search and Rescue spokesperson David Nel says she was alone in the car.
Team members were dispatched to the scene shortly after 14h00, to assist in the rescue effort.
A smaller medical and rescue team navigated the steep terrain down to the wreck, where they found that the woman had been able to exit the vehicle but was unable to walk any further.
She was assessed and treated on scene before being placed into a stretcher.
While the team below treated the patient, the rescue teams on the road rigged a technical rope system, anchored to one of the City’s Fire and Rescue vehicles.
A drone from the Western Cape Government – Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Drone Unit was used to monitor and provide feedback on the rescue efforts below.
In a carefully coordinated effort, the patient was safely carried back up to the road.
The team above slowly hauling the stretcher up to the road using the rope system, while the team below carefully moved the stretcher through the dense vegetation and up the steep slope.
Once on the road, the patient was moved to a waiting ambulance and transported to hospital.
Nel says it was inspiring to see such a large group of professionals and volunteers, from multiple services, working together in such a complicated environment.
“This was a demanding scenario made less difficult by having access to so many competent rescue specialists at one scene. It’s always a pleasure working alongside the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Western Cape Government – Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Life Healthcare and the NSRI.”
- Members of the public are reminded to save and memorise the WSAR Emergency Contact Number, 021 937 0300.
- Photos provided by Carlo Garth Adonis, Fabian Higgins, Rob Burger and Mountain Club of SA – Search And Rescue.
