On that Sunday, Klaus Busacker (78) and his wife Dagmar, who have been spending their holidays in Plett for years, had walked to the point of Robberg and decided to walk around and return along the Southern route. Busacker says that in retrospect he realised that this had been an error in judgement on his part, since the route was beyond his physical capability.
There was no clear path and physical strength was required to clamber along rocky ledges. Busacker fell and landed on his head, breaking his glasses and a tooth. He also sustained several cuts, bruises and abrasions and was unable to to continue walking after his fall. His wife, who does not speak English, yelled in German for assistance.
Fortunately, Evelyn and Stefan Pepler from Knysna had been hiking with their family and came across the couple in distress. Stefan contacted the NSRI on their behalf as the Busackers were not carrying a cellphone (but even if they had a cellphone, they did not know the NSRI contact number). According to Busacker, Stefan was not immediately able to find a sufficient cellphone signal, but soon managed to make the necessary call.
Busacker says that the NSRI arrived by boat and attempted to come ashore with a floating stretcher, but the water was apparently too rough in that location, and he saw them choose a different place to dock, slightly further from the scene of the incident.
Busacker recalls that when the NSRI volunteers reached the couple, they immediately created a warm and calming atmosphere which made the couple feel safe. He was placed on a stretcher and the NSRI volunteers carried him over rocky terrain to the seashore near their vessel. Busacker was touched by the kindness and consideration the NSRI volunteers displayed.
He had to be strapped onto a floating stretcher in order to be transferred from the land to the boat a short distance offshore. Busacker says that despite the obvious risk of capsizing in the turbulent waves, he felt safe enough in the NSRI volunteers' capable hands and they made it safely to the boat. The NSRI volunteers kept talking to him and also administered oxygen. They took him to their base by boat and from there he was transported to the Plett Medi-Clinic.
One of the NSRI volunteers had stayed on Robberg with Busacker's wife Dagmar and accompanied her on the walk back to their car. Busacker arrived at the Mediclinic ahead of his wife. He was transferred to George to undergo further scans, but no serious injuries were detected. He says he was fortunate to have remained conscious throughout the ordeal.
Busacker expressed his amazement at the level of compassion displayed by the NSRI volunteers. He says he felt truly grateful and was humbled by the invaluable service they provided him in his hour of need. He mentions that if he had known how difficult the route they had chosen would be, he might not have attempted it.
He also thanked the Peplers for their assistance, Stefan for the practical manner in which he dealt with the emergency and Evelyn for her kindness and emotional support.
NSRI volunteers en route to assist a German tourist who had a nasty fall at Robberg Nature Reserve. The tourist, Klaus Busacker had only praise for the NSRI volunteers. Photo: Stefan Pepler.
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