Cape Town - Police have opened an inquest docket following the discovery and retrieval of a 53-year-old man’s body on Thursday on Table Mountain.
The man was hiking near Yellowstone Gorge, via Skywalk, when he apparently fell to his death.
His body was recovered on Thursday by the Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) team with the help of the Skymed helicopter.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said a search was conducted on Tuesday after hikers found the belongings of the man on the mountain.
He said they alerted authorities after accessing details on a cellphone that was found with the belongings.
“At about 7pm, the body was discovered near a ravine by rescuers conducting a search on foot.
“Due to the terrain and windy conditions, the body could only be retrieved this morning (Thursday),” Van Wyk said.
WSAR spokesperson Johan Marais said that when going on excursions, hikers must ensure that they do so in groups, and stick to hiking and visible foot pathways.
He said hikers must be properly dressed and ensure that they carry extra clothing as the weather conditions constantly changed on the mountain.
