A hiker was airlifted from the Magaliesberg on March 5th after breaking her ankle.
Judy Jordaan was hiking with her husband and three others in the Bergheim area when the accident happened. Medics were dispatched to Bergheim but when they realised she was on the mountain, a helicopter was called in. She was airlifted off the mountain to the ambulance and she was transported to Ferncrest Hospital in Rustenburg. Later she was transferred to a hospital in Johannesburg where she underwent surgery.
On the same day, in the same area, hikers discovered the badly decomposed body of a 20-30 year old man, who could not be identified at the time. It is not clear from the original report if the party that discovered the body was the same party that Judy Jordaan belonged to, but both incidents occurred very close to each other.
Thanks for the details Geordie! I've encountered "non-hikers" on the mountain in that area, and I know others have too. Not too sure what they get up to there...didn't ask questions.
The Bergheim hike on that day was held by the JHC with 5 groups. Slow, med -, med+ , brisk, and on that day, a photographic group. The med - group camp across the body and Judy was part of the Photographic group.
The police chopper had been active in the area for most of the day, and when we called in the body, they landed at Bergheim to pick up the hike leader to try and show them where it was. At the same time the call for help came in from the photographic group and the chopper was able to pick Judy up and bring her down to the camp.. A lucky coincidence. The cops were mum about their activity in the area, but were not at all surprised by the body discovery. Apparently some farmers had reported cable theft in the area and along with the police had been perusing the matter!!??!!. Talking to paramedics about the matter while we waited for the chopper, we noticed the gate security guard sideling in closer to eavesdrop on the conversation. Definitely part of a bigger picture but were left to join our own dots.
