Stuck between two rivers and a wet place

TSITSIKAMMA NEWS - A massive rescue operation that included nearly 50 volunteers, six different search and rescue agencies, and a helicopter to extract a group of 14 young hikers from the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail, has been lauded as phenomenal.

Knysna businessman Keith Ferguson, who first raised the alarm as his daughter Robyn (23) was a member of the group, referred to it as a fantastic operation that highlighted the "volunteer spirit of all those involved".

The hikers, most of them medical students from the University of Stellenbosch, endured 24 hours of torrential rain in what is described as the most inaccessible area of the trail between the Lottering and the Elandsbos rivers.

Fresh from the harrowing experience that saw them huddled together in an open area without shelter, being pelted by almost 130mm of rain in 24 hours, the group was in high spirits and agreed that they had a Tsitsikamma-size bonding experience.

"We are all incredibly grateful to our rescuers – and I get very emotional thinking of it," said Robyn.

The hikers all wrapped up and safe with some of their rescuers.

Keith said, "It gives one faith in all those volunteers that they are doing what they enjoy doing every day in service of the community." His praise for the rescue volunteers was echoed by Douw van der Merwe, ecotourism manager for Mountains to Oceans (MTO), part of a forestry company's ecotourism business.

"It was a massive operation. We haven't had such hectic call-outs in the three-and-a-half-years that I have been involved. We are always planning, but the support of institutions like the NSRI, whose members selflessly give their services, is unbelievable."

NSRI Oyster Bay, NSRI Storms River, NSRI Jeffreys Bay, NSRI Plettenberg Bay, MTO rangers, SA National Parks Tsitsikamma rangers, Eastern Cape Government EMS, officers from the Storm's River Police Station and the Police Dive Unit, Plettenberg Bay First Responders, and a Savannah Helicopters Squirrel helicopter (an MTO resource from George) were all involved in the joint operation control centre established on Saturday morning.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon praised all these services. "All services involved are commended for their close co-operation and teamwork during the rescue evacuation operation."

The group before they initially started the hike, three days prior to their ordeal, on Wednesday 10 May. Back, from left: Rinus Booyens, Thomas Jessop, Joshua Venter, Danielle Griesel, Daniella Combrink, Lisa Venter, James Steven and Grant Shearer. Front, from left: Marguerite Herbst, Robyn Ferguson, Anke Schreuder, Ilke Horn, Mareli Schoeman and Marina Barnard.

Added Robyn, "I still have unfinished business, though. To complete the hike. I'm not sure when, but it will be in better weather!"

The 14 hikers involved in the ordeal were Rinus Booyens, Thomas Jessop, Joshua Venter, Danielle Griesel, Daniella Combrink, Lisa Venter, James Steven, Grant Shearer, Marguerite Herbst, Robyn Ferguson, Anke Schreuder, Ilke Horn, Mareli Schoeman and Marina Barnard.

Hikers Marguerite Herbst, Thomas Jessop and Rinus Booyens after the rescuers found them.