12-Hour Waterfall Rescue Near Hekpoort
Editor’s note: This article originates from the Mountain Club of SA – Search and Rescue Facebook page.
12-hour, 4km rescue carry of a critically injured hiker after a waterfall pool jump goes wrong.
A hiker was critically injured when a jump into a waterfall pool went horribly wrong and left him injured and in unbearable pain several kilometres from the nearest road. The incident happened when a large group of friends hiked to the waterfall near Hekpoort on 26 October. The hiker appears to have miscalculated the jump and landed awkwardly in the water. In extreme pain, the group helped him out of the water onto the rocks on the side of the pool, but the sheer rock faces on almost all sides meant they required outside help.
The group initially called a private ambulance service for help, but the inaccessible terrain scuppered paramedics’ initial attempts to access the hiker. The paramedics, who first responded to the incident, were forced to turn around. The incident was escalated, and MSAR Gauteng was requested to assist. Plan A was to use a helicopter to rescue the man, but even though a South African Air Force helicopter was available, nightfall and low light precluded flying in the confined area close to the waterfall. The helicopter would only be able to assist at first light the next morning.
The rescue team had to resort to Plan B. The seriousness of the hiker’s injuries was such that waiting until the next morning was not an option, as getting the injured man to a hospital was a priority. A ground rescue team with Gauteng Emergency Services Paramedics, MSAR rescuers, and equipment responded to the scene. Later, a second wave of rescuers from Salaam Foundation also joined to assist in getting the man out of the mountains.
The man was placed in a vacuum mattress and secured into a wilderness stretcher, which provided full-body immobilisation. This would give the best protection during the carry over the steep and rough terrain. The most challenging part of the rescue operation was moving the stretcher from the rocks next to the waterfall, over the outflow of the pool, and up a steep rock scramble on the side of the waterfall. Using ropes to protect against the risk of falling into the waterfall pool, the team moved the stretcher across the water and up one side of the waterfall. From there, the team carried the stretcher a kilometre to where 4x4 vehicles waited to move the stretcher first on an off-road section and then further down a rough jeep track. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the rough road was too bumpy, causing unbearable pain. The team had to resort to Plan C, which was to carry the stretcher several kilometres further until reaching a more even surface. In total, the stretcher was carried over some 4 kilometres before a 4x4 could finally be used to drive the hiker to a Gauteng Emergency Services ambulance. The man was admitted to hospital early in the morning, some 12 hours after first getting injured.
We wish him a speedy and full recovery.
Credits
Article and photos courtesy of the Mountain Club of SA – Search and Rescue Facebook page.
Photo credits: Franco Houy, Gerhard Bezuidenhout, Sabine Behr, Stephan Snyman.