Hiker rescued in Drakensberg
2007-04-05 19:56
Johannesburg - A 21-year-old German exchange student at the University of Stellenbosch has been rescued in the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal after falling 10m down a cliff, said the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) on Thursday.
He was among a group of 32 hikers who were camping in the mountains on Wednesday afternoon, said spokesperson Steve Cooke.
"We received a call from a hiker's mothers on Wednesday afternoon, but the air force chopper used by the emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) team could not make it because of bad weather."
Rescuers managed to reach the hikers shortly before 06:00 on Thursday.
Bruised lower back
"The hikers had a doctor among them who examined him overnight. They were also properly equipped with camping stuff so it was not bad."
EMRS spokesperson Dr Thembisa Sitsila said the man had "a suspected fractured foot and a severely bruised lower back".
"He was taken to Laverna Hospital in Bergville".
She encouraged holidaymakers or anyone camping in the mountains to report medical emergencies through a toll free number, 10177 or 080 000 5133.
"All necessary medical response will be dispatched to assist anywhere in the province," said Sitsila.
- SAPA