Kaaimans River: Injured Kloofers Evacuated From River Gorge

Ian Gerber, NSRI Wilderness duty coxswain, said: At 17h54, Sunday, 6 April, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from the kloofing companion of a man with a medical condition, with a kloofing party on an informal canyon river gorge kloofing expedition on the river, about 1.5 kilometers upstream from the N2 bridge on the Kaaimans River upstream from Map of Africa.

NSRI Wilderness duty crew responded to the NSRI Wilderness station 23 rescue base where the NSRI rescue vehicle, towing an NSRI JetRIB rescue craft, and accompanied by an NSRI floating stretcher, was dispatched while WC Government Health EMS and George Fire and Rescue Services were activated.

NSRI Wilderness crew arrived at the nearest landmark where a triage area was established, and then NSRI crew hiked, paddled, swam and kloofed up river towards the scene accompanied by the floating stretcher.

Supporting emergency services – NSRI Wilderness crew, an EMS rescue squad, an EMS ambulance and George Fire and Rescue Services remained at the mustering triage area where an injured male, who had hiked down river with the caller (who had raised the alarm), was treated by paramedics for injuries sustained in a fall and he was treated in an EMS ambulance and stabilised.

On NSRI crew reaching the scene, through difficult terrain and fading light, the adult man with the medical condition, and suffering hypothermia, was stabilised by NSRI medics and then secured into a floating stretcher.

A local resident had provided a bottle of hot water and dry towels to the man (who had raised the alarm) while he was returning to the scene after getting into a cellphone reception area raising the alarm. That resident is commended for the assistance.

Accompanied by the remaining hikers, in the care of the NSRI crew, the injured man, in a serious but stable condition, and the kloofing party, were brought through the river and downstream, and then hiked, paddled, swum and kloofed, further along and through the river and over rocks and gravel roads, safely to the mustering triage area where the patient was taken into the care of paramedics who continued with medical treatment to further stabilise the patient.

Both patients were then transported to hospital by EMS ambulance, in stable conditions, where they are recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

The rescue operation was completed at 20h56.

NSRI Wilderness and all emergency services involved are commended for the swift response and cooperation in this challenging rescue operation.