vertical-endeavour.com

This is the place to gather and discuss all accidents and rescues in the Drakensberg for 2010. The most common are hiking related, though they can also result from other activities such as climbing and paragliding. This thread is inspired by the book "Dragons Wrath" by Reg Pearse & James Byrom, and is an endeavour to continue on in that spirit.

The purpose of this is to:
* concatenate all information about these accidents to keep a concerned Drakensberg community informed;
* express solidarity and concern to those involved in the accidents;
* learn from mistakes made and to heed warnings of risks.

The purpose of this is NOT to:
* criticise or embarrass those involved;
* create media hype or a morbid fascination of other peoples accidents;
* create negative publicity for the Berg (regarding safety and security in the Berg, our message is one of "Be informed and prepared when you go", rather than "Don't go" or "There are no problems").

In 2008 there were 5 hiking-related deaths in the Berg:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forums/14-drakensberg-general/231-tragedies-in-the-drakensberg-2008.html

I have been compiling a list of incidents that occurred in 2009, which I've been intending to publish for a while and I'll have this up as soon as I can.

This is a good idea Intrepid, it will help highlight the importance of safety in the Berg. It just shows how one can never let ones guard down whilst hiking...

January 31: a MCSA member on an official injured her ankle at Bushman's Neck and was carried out on a horse organised by local protection services and KZN Wildlife.
Source: KZN MCSA Newsletter April-June 2010

The above newsletter also reports alerts about a missing aircraft in the Berg, as well as a day hiker missing in the Cobham area, which in the end did not require their services.

April 03: Leonie Hecter, injured her ankle near Keartlands Pass, Monks Cowl. She was evacuated on horseback and taken to hospital.
Source: IOL news article www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20100406043528665C910483

April 05: Annie Reitz was airlifted from Cowl Fork , Monk's Cowl, after slipping and breaking her ankle.
Source:
* personal account by her partner, Hermann Kühne, on this thread: www.vertical-endeavour.com/forums/8-drakensberg-hiking/1010-easter-weekend-activities.html?limit=6&start=18#1075
* IOL news article: www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20100406043528665C910483
* Details provided by the pilot who flew the helicopter on this thread: www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61126

late April: Gavin Raubenheimer had almost completed a guiding trip up Cathedral Peak and was about an hour from the end when he was bitten by a puff adder. He was airlifted to a hospital, to be released 3 days later, while his client was dropped off at the Cathedral Peak Hotel.
Source: peakhigh.co.za/blog/?p=815

24 June: a 20 year old woman was airlifted via an Oryx helicopter from Stimela Ridge, Mnweni. She was part of a group of 11 hikers all in their 20's. She had fallen ill during the trip, apparently with a possible ruptured abdomen. The leader phoned Gavin Raubenheimer, who consulted with a doctor, and it was decided that her condition was serious and that she was in no condition to walk out. She is reported to be in a stable condition, and the rest of the group completed their hike.
Source: IOL

23 March: an ill teenager, suffering from altitude sickness (as diagnosed later), was airlifted by SAPS Airwing Squirrel, manned by MCSA and EMRS personel, off the escarpment near the Little Saddle, Cathedral Peak.

28 April: a 57-year old male with an injured ankle was airlifted from a narrow gully on Leslies Pass, Injasuthi. The information from the call on the previous day was that he was at the the bottom of the pass. When the MCSA and EMRS crew flew out in a SAPS Airwing Squirrel helicopter they discovered he was actually half way up the pass and difficult to access. They flew to Giants Castle and requested an Air Force Oryx helicopter, which then picked up the crew and the rescue was successfully carried out.

30 April: a suspected smuggler, who had been shot, was airlifted off Ntonjelana Pass, Mnweni by SAPS Airwing.

Source: KZN MCSA Newsletter July-September 2010

The above newsletter also provides further details on the Annie Reitz rescue, as well as a detailed account of Gavin Raubenheimer's snakebite incident.