Hiker dies in Drakensberg fall
2008-07-23 18:07
Johannesburg - A 19 year-old hiker fell to his death from the head of the Thukela Falls in the Drakensberg mountains on Wednesday, Ezemvelo Kwazulu-Natal Wildlife said.
Luan Carter was hiking with a group of friends in the Royal Natal National Park in uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park World Heritage.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Carter walked to the Thukela falls to admire the view.
"Conditions are very icy at the moment and it appears that Mr Carter must have slipped at the edge and fallen some 80m to his death," said EKZNW.
A police officer who was part of another group of hikers witnessed the fall and immediately contacted the police's search and rescue unit.
The EKZNW staff were also informed. They instituted the standing rescue procedure which brought in the provincial emergency medical rescue service.
Carter's body was retrieved by the SAPS search and rescue unit and taken to a local mortuary.
- SAPA