Devil's Peak Fall Survivor Saved
A lone hiker survived a fall on Devil's Peak thanks to passing hikers who heard cries for help and initiated a technical rescue. Experts stressed the importance of always informing someone of your route and expected return time when venturing into challenging or less-traveled areas.
Devil's Peak's steep ravines and unpredictable terrain have been the scene of numerous rescues. In one incident, a lone hiker who had fallen and injured his leg was only found two days later in Second Waterfall Ravine after his cries for help were heard by passing hikers. Another hiker, a 53-year-old woman, fell 12 meters after trying to get around an overgrown section of the trail. Fatalities are a grim reality on the mountain. In September 2024, a 20-year-old American hiker was found deceased after an apparent fall while hiking on Devil's Peak. Her body was located after a two-day search involving aerial support. The rescues are carried out by a dedicated group of volunteers. Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a collaborative effort between government agencies and volunteer organizations. For the period of April 2022 to March 2023, WSAR teams responded to 234 incidents, assisting 369 people. These highly skilled volunteers, including members of the Mountain Club of South Africa, leave their homes and families, often in the middle of the night, to assist strangers in perilous situations. The Cape Town section of the Mountain Club's rescue team consists of approximately 70 members trained in mountaineering, first aid, and technical rope rescues. Many rescues involve hikers who get lost or stranded. In one case, a lone trail runner went off route and was spotted by another hiker from the summit, who then alerted rescuers. In another, two hikers had to be rescued from a ledge on Table Mountain after they got lost descending the India Venster trail. The rescue operations are often complex technical endeavors. To extract the injured hiker from Second Waterfall Ravine, rescuers used a specialized stretcher and a system of ropes to safely navigate the steep and uneven terrain. In the case of the woman who fell 12 meters, a helicopter was used to hoist her from the mountainside.
