PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Another person fell victim to the Robberg hiking trail in Plettenberg Bay over the Easter weekend. A man had to be rescued off the route after injuring his ankle.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Plettenberg Bay deputy station commander Robbie Gibson said just before 09:00 on Monday April 2, the crew responded to reports of a 37-year-old Johannesburg man unable to continue his hike along the route after injuring his ankle while walking on the southern side of the trail near The Point.
“NSRI crew responded by road and hiked to the man while the sea rescue craft Leonard Smith and Free Runner were launched. Our sea rescue vehicle also took additional crew to the car park and they hiked to the location with extra medical gear and extrication gear,” Gibson said.
The AMS/EMS Skymed rescue helicopter was placed on alert and a Western Cape government health EMS ambulance also responded to the Robberg car park.
“NSRI provided medical care on the scene and the patient, in a stable condition and suffering suspected torn ligaments of the ankle, was assisted to reach our sea rescue craft. Using a floating stretcher the patient was transferred from the beach to our sea rescue craft and brought to our station.”
NSRI crew then transported the man to a local hospital where he received treatment.
The man’s wife, who was hiking with him at the time of the incident, was escorted out of the reserve by fellow hikers.
This is not the first time large-scale rescue efforts have been needed to help injured hikers along Robberg.
About a month ago a 29-year-old Brazilian woman suffered a fractured leg after a fall near The Point.
This saw rescue efforts by several groups including the local NSRI, the Mountain Club of South Africa Garden Route division, Medlife ambulance services and the Western Cape Government Health emergency services.
Over the past year there have been several incidents which resulted in minor and major injuries.
ARTICLE: YOLANDé STANDER, CORRESPONDENT
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