PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Authorities have warned hikers to take the necessary precautions when taking on the popular Robberg Nature Reserve hike following another injury over the weekend.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Plettenberg Bay deputy station commander Ross Badenhorst said that on Sunday 17 February at about 13:00 they received reports that a woman was injured along the reserve.
He said the woman, a 61-year-old tourist from Germany, had been with a tour group when they went swimming at the Robberg Island. "They suspected she had suffered either a fractured or dislocated hip after she was dumped by a wave while swimming," Badenhorst said.
When the NSRI volunteers arrived aboard the Leonard Smith sea rescue craft they stabilised the patient, he said. The woman was secured to a floating stretcher and moved to the sea rescue boat and brought to our sea rescue base before being transported by ambulance to a hospital where she received further care.
Other incidents in recent months
Over the past year, several hikers had sustained either major or minor injuries.
Last week, on 12 February, an elderly man had to be evacuated due to exhaustion and a sprained knee, following a knee replacement operation four months ago, according to station commander Marc Rodgers.
Last year, in March, a large-scale rescue operation was carried out when a Brazilian tourist fell and broke her leg while hiking along the reserve.
A few months earlier a 53-year- old Frenchman on holiday fell and fractured his right tibia and fibula while hiking the trail.
CapeNature in a statement said that most of the incidents were largely as a result of hikers overestimating their own physical abilities. They further said that hikers often ignore the route markers and maps, take shortcuts, do activities with a high-risk factor despite not having medical assistance nearby, do not wear the appropriate clothing and shoes, and do not provide for water or food.
Authorities have warned hikers to take the necessary precautions when taking on the popular Robberg Nature Reserve hike following another injury over the weekend.
Hikers have been urged to familiarise themselves with the terrain and the safety protocol before taking on the trail.
A link to this information can be found on the CapeNature website (search for Hiking Protocol).
In case of an emergency, Plett NSRI can be contacted on 082 990 5975.
An injured tourist is being stabilised by NSRI volunteers after suffering an injury while swmming, according to reports. Photos: NSRI
A good chunk of NSRI-members is being taken up to assist visitors to Robberg who seem to be overestimating their physical abilities.
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