GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the emergency services and Cape Nature are urgently appealing to day walkers and hikers, who may be planning to hike the Plettenberg Bay Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail, to be fully prepared for a grueling hike that too often catches hikers and day walkers off guard.
According to Ross Badenhorst, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty coxswain, there has been a significant increase in emergency response incidents along this hiking trail that has raised concerns.
"Day walkers, perhaps thinking that the Robberg hiking trail is an easy hike and may be a gentle walk, are often surprised at just how grueling this hiking trail can be," he said.
Carry sufficient water, hydration, food and supplements. Wear proper sealed running, hiking, walking or training shoes. Wear a hat, preferably long sleeved clothing, and fully charged cell phone communication. Wear sunscreen.
"Even the shorter walk, that cuts through the sand dunes and almost halves the hiking distance, is still, without a doubt, a grueling day hike," said Badenhorst.
This warning comes after a female hiker suffering heat stroke, required medical assistance on Monday 25 March.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated at the request of WC Government Health EMS Metro Control, to assist the hiker at Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail.
"Efforts to reach the The Point, Robberg hiking trail, from the sea side, were not possible due to heavy sea swells during the full moon spring tide high tide – although two NSRI rescue craft were prepared to launch if required," said Badenhorst.
NSRI crew, carrying medical equipment, jogged to the patient, a Capetonian female (44) with family, who suffered heat stroke complicated by a medical condition.
According to Badenhorst, the family were located at the part of the hiking trail called The Wild Side, about four hours hike from the car park, when they had raised the alarm requesting medical care.
NSRI medics initiated medical treatment and were joined by Cape Nature rangers. The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter deployed a rescue technician onto the scene who elevated medical care to the patient. She was secured into a specialised stretcher and airlifted to a landing zone at a local farmer's property.
The patient was transferred into an EMS ambulance and in the care of paramedics she was transported to hospital in a stable condition.
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