Survival Essentials: NSRI and Cape Nature Issue Vital Safety Advice for Robberg Nature Reserve Hikers

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 gruelling hike that too often catches hikers and day walkers off guard.

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 gruelling this hiking trail can be.

Carry sufficient water, hydration, food and supplements. Wear proper sealed running, hiking, walking, trainer shoes. Wear a hat, preferably long sleeves 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 gruelling day hike.

Be safety conscious.

On Monday, 25 March, at 13h37, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated at the request of WC Government Health EMS Metro Control, to assist at Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail where a female, suffering reported heat stroke, required medical assistance.

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 2 NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue craft were prepared to launch if required.

Cape Nature rangers, WC Government Health EMS, the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, and NSRI rescue crew responded.

NSRI crew, carrying medical equipment, jogged to the patient, a Capetonian female, age 44, hiking with family, who suffered heat stroke complicated by a medical condition.

They were located at The Wild Side of Robberg Nature Reserve hiking trail, about 4 hours hike from the Robberg 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, on arrival on the scene, deployed a rescue technician onto the scene who elevated medical care to the patient.

The patient was secured into a specialised stretcher and airlifted to a landing zone at a local farmers property. The farmer is commended for his cooperation.

The patient was transferred into an EMS ambulance and in the care of paramedics she was transported to hospital in a stable condition.