Five hurt on CT councillor's hike

Published Aug 31, 2015

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Cape Town - A City of Cape Town councillor has found himself in hot water after leading 14 hikers up a dangerous mountain path that had been closed for 33 years.

Sunday’s incident on the Blinkwater Ravine – closed since 1982 – has sparked an investigation by SANParks as to why councillor Anwar Adams took the hikers up the dangerous mountain path. Five of them were injured on the hike.

Adams is a Wilderness Search and Rescue volunteer guide.

Wilderness Search and Rescue spokesman Johan Morais said as the hikers made their way up the path, they heard a noise. A boulder came rolling down the mountain, injuring four hikers and trapping another.

Anwar, who said he had been hiking for almost 40 years, said the incident had been a “freak accident” as he normally led hikers up the dangerous path.

“We were in the narrow ravine and there was no way to avoid the rock. We do this every year and I have been doing this for 39 years. My very first hike was Blinkwater. The pathway is not dangerous, the last time we did it was in November. We were not the only group and we will not be the last.”

A large air and mountain rescue operation began with search teams and paramedics struggling to airlift the injured to safety during the six-hour ordeal.

Morais said: “Two of the hikers, not too seriously injured, walked down. One hiker was packed on a stretcher and two more awaited the arrival of an Oryx Airforce helicopter to be hoisted onto a chopper and then flown off a mountain.”

A woman believed to be 33 years old apparently suffered broken ribs and was airlifted to Cape Town Mediclinic, Morais said.

SANParks spokeswoman Merle Collins confirmed to the Cape Argus that investigation would be conducted to establish why an “experienced mountain guide” decided to lead 14 hikers up the Blinkwater Ravine pathway that had been closed for more than three decades since 1982.

Collins said the Blinkwater ravine pathway had been closed for decades because of the dangerous terrains it posed. Signs warning hikers not to enter were put up everywhere as loose rocks and steep tracks posed a threat. “We are concerned that an experienced guide took the hikers up a route that was actually closed. Signs were put up to warn hikers. We have to investigate why such an experienced hiker decided to takethat route,” she said.

Collins added that alternative routes such as Kasteelspoort, Diagonal Route and Slangolie were available.

On Sunday night, Adams said he welcomed an investigation by SANParks, adding “there is a danger in everything. That (warning) sign said absolutely nothing, the Diagonal route leads to Blinkwater, it is a route that we take and hikers sign an indemnity form.”

He added that when the boulder dislodged, his team members quickly worked to aid those injured. They used a rope to tie the boulder, which they lifted off the trapped hiker.

“We were so fortunate that a doctor was there. Our training made it easy for the rescue teams to airlift the injured. I do not regret going to Blinkwater, I will go back. These are things that happen. The sport that we love is risky,” Adams said.

Mayco member for Human Settlements, Benedicta Van Minnen, confirmed that Adams was a member of the city council.

He is a member of the Pan Africanist Congress and was part of the Human Settlements portfolio’s naming committee.

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