Two hikers on the last day of their 10-day Drakensberg Grand Traverse sustained multiple injuries after an incident with shepherds near Bushmans Nek on the border of Lesotho after an interaction escalated.
A Mountain Club of SA Search and Rescue (MCSA) and Ezemveo team were activated on 15 April after one of the hikers sustained multiple injuries, believed to be from stones thrown at him.
The couple is said to have retreated down the slope and triggered their Garmin In-reach to send a satellite-based SOS signal. Due to the extent of their injuries, self-rescue was not an option, ‘the couple set up camp some distance away to spend the night whilst using what first aid supplies they had with them to treat the injuries and waiting for help,’ MCSA commented
Due to the time of the day and the high altitude (3200 m), an MCSA ground team accompanied by armed Ezemvelo KZN rangers were activated and hiked through the night, but ‘owing to the distance and vertical altitude gain, it became clear that they would not reach the two hikers before sunrise as planned.’
The ground team then located a suitable landing zone ‘and at first light, on Sunday, a Bell Jetranger helicopter flew in to airlift the medic to the two hikers.
‘Whilst the medic stabilised the seriously injured hiker on the scene, the helicopter flew his wife and the rest of the rescue team to Bushman’s Nek in relays. The injured hiker and medic were then flown directly to an awaiting ambulance at Underberg, where the man was transferred to the hospital.’
The incident is being seriously handled, with Lesotho police having already launched an investigation and a case of assault lodged at Himeville SAPS.
The Chief and residents of Thamatu village (Lesotho) and surrounds are also assisting authorities in this investigation, where Lesotho is generally considered a peaceful country and incidents such as these rare occurrences.
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