Five people stranded on Sentinel Peak in the Drakensberg have been safely rescued after heavy snowfall left them cut off from the outside world.
The group had been trapped since Monday night as worsening weather conditions reduced their food and water supplies. Search and Rescue teams from Gauteng and the Free State joined ER24 paramedics in the operation.
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Kyle Nesbitt from the Search and Rescue Association of South Africa said rescuers established a forward base at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge before heading towards Sentinel Peak.
Rescue vehicles were equipped with snow chains, while a SHERP all-terrain rescue vehicle was used to tackle the difficult terrain. The journey to Sentinel Parking, about seven kilometres away, took approximately two hours because of the conditions.
Sentinel Peak Rescue Team Reaches Stranded Hikers
Once rescuers reached the group, they assessed the hikers and provided them with food and warmth before bringing them safely down the mountain.
Nesbitt said the group was in good spirits and had no immediate medical concerns. However, he said the situation could have become increasingly dangerous if the rescue had been delayed.
Drakensberg Hikers Urged To Prepare For Severe Weather
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Nesbitt urged hikers entering areas facing severe weather to prepare for difficult conditions by carrying at least 48 hours’ worth of food and suitable cold- and wet-weather gear. He also advised hikers to have an emergency plan and conserve cellphone batteries, particularly in areas where signal is limited.
“Don’t use your phone as a torch,” he cautioned, saying a cellphone may be the hiker’s only means of communicating with the outside world in an emergency.
