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GEORGE NEWS - A mountain rescue operation involving a rescue helicopter took place earlier today, Friday 9 May, in the Outeniqua mountains behind the Witfontein Nature Reserve at Tierkop.
This followed after a hiker sustained a serious leg injury in wet and dangerous conditions.
The hiker, whose identity is not currently known to the George Herald, fractured his lower leg while on the mountain. He hiked with two others – another man and a woman – who were also brought back to safety after the incident. They were unharmed.
Frontier Medix, Metro Emergency Medical Services and the AMS rescue helicopter were involved in the operation.
Eyewitness Michelle Bezuidenhout said the rescue operation unfolded near the entrance to the reserve while children were practising athletics nearby after their cross-country session had been cancelled because of the soaked grounds.
“Emergency vehicles arrived first and waited for the Metro AMS helicopter,” Bezuidenhout said. “The helicopter first collected the injured man from the mountain and later returned for the other two hikers, a man and a woman, for safety reasons.”
She said the injured hiker was carried from the helicopter on a stretcher. The rescue operation started at about 11:30 and lasted roughly an hour. According to George Municipality, the incident required a medical helicopter evacuation because of the difficult terrain and weather conditions.
The municipality has since urged the public to avoid hiking, cycling and recreational activities in mountainous and high-risk terrain while wet and unstable weather conditions persist.
Frontier Medix, Metro Emergency Medical Services and the AMS rescue helicopter were involved in the operation. Photos: Michelle Bezuidenhout
Authorities warned that current conditions have made mountain areas extremely slippery and dangerous. The municipality also noted that medical rescue helicopters are critical resources reserved for distressed and inaccessible areas, and that unnecessary deployments place additional strain on emergency response capacity.
Members of the public are strongly advised to postpone mountain activities until conditions improve and the areas are declared safe again.
Video: The injured hiker was carried to the ambulance on a stretcher following the rescue operation. Video: Michelle Bezuidenhout
The young athletes who saw sections of the rescue operation from the Witfontein Nature Reserve. On the photo are Micah (9) and Joshua Bezuidenhout (13) with Emily (8), Lilah (5) and Joshua Loock (2) and rescue personnel.
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