The missing key, the hiker and the YouTuber

Video

GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - What are the chances of finding a lost car key in a forest after a morning hike? When your trail is followed by local video blogger and YouTuber Karl Heyns, chances are pretty good.

On Friday 28 January, shortly after a lovely walk to the Pepsi Pools with the Walkie Talkie hiking group, hiker Dave Corney discovered he had lost his car key via a hole in his back pocket.

"Going back to retrace my steps through the forest seemed like a pointless exercise, the proverbial needle in a haystack," said Corney. "The collection of a spare key ensured I got my car home safely, but I was preparing myself to go through the process of having a new key made."

Meanwhile, technology and social media were working their magic as an incredible chain of events began to unfold.

Nicola Sole: The friend who posted on Facebook

A more tech-savvy lady in his walking group, Nicola Sole, offered to post a note on the Facebook page Georgiete Staan Saam and field the calls on his behalf.

"Within minutes of doing so, a Nedbank Club running friend, Carl de Campos [a blind computer programmer], directly contacted me with news of a George hiker and YouTuber, Karl Heyns, who while filming his own walk that day, spotted the key," said Sole.

This footage was sent via WhatsApp to Sole with the hope that it was his lost key, and indeed it was!

A video grab of the keys found on the hiking trail.

"How incredible to literally watch the moment the kind Samaritan found your key on video. A contact number for Heyns was sent to Corney via two people and immediate contact was made. The key was collected the same day."

Corney extends special thanks to the remarkable community of George who played a part in this feel-good story. "The way in which Dave got his keys back makes one realise what a small world we live in," said Heyns.

Video: Forest hike - battery ran out close towards the end.

Karl Heyns' YouTube channel Mountain Hiking depicts many of his endeavours in the Outeniqua Mountains. Another interesting find Karl has made during his hikes was a mountain bike on a trail in Groeneweide, which was taken to the police station.

Carl de Campos: the blind computer expert who connected the dots