16/03/2026
Well done to Stephanie Crossland for her fast thinking and willingness to assist. Special shout out to all the first responders and volunteers that made sure the hiker got safely to further medical care.
She used an emergency blanket and thought outside the box and used it to create shade in an emergency situation, it can also be used for;
• Shielding someone from the wind
• Help prevent hypothermia
• Signal rescuers to your location by using its reflective property.
To name but a few uses!
In remote environments, small pieces of equipment can make a huge impact.
This is exactly why our Day Hiker First Aid Kit contains an emergency blanket. Not because it looks good in a kit, but because in the real world, tools like this can help stabilize a patient until emergency services can reach you.
Our kits are designed to ensure that if you ever face a situation like this, you will be prepared!
HEROIC TRAIL RUNNER SAVES INTERNATIONAL TOURIST
Monday, 16 March 2026
• Trail Runner was prepared to serve - and leapt into action
• Woman leads the way, showing how we can all care
• The impact: International tourist’s life saved
Rescuers from Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) responded to an emergency on Platteklip Gorge after a 66-year-old visiting woman from Belgium collapsed while hiking with her husband on the lower section of the trail on Sunday morning.
The couple had walked from the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Lower Cable Station to the base of the gorge in very hot conditions when the woman suddenly began to feel weak. She sat down and briefly lost consciousness before regaining awareness and vomiting - a concerning sign of heat-related illness.
Fortunately, a passing trail runner from West Coast Athletic Club recognised the seriousness of the situation and immediately raised the alarm by calling the emergency number 021 937 0300. The club had recently hosted a safety talk by WSAR, and the quick action taken on the trail demonstrated exactly why these conversations matter.
While waiting for rescuers to arrive, the runner used a space blanket from her running pack to create a makeshift sun shield, protecting the patient from further exposure. When rescuers reached the scene, the woman was actively cooled with wet towels placed on her neck and back while a paramedic assessed her condition.
After being assessed by a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic, rescuers carefully piggy-backed the patient down the trail to a waiting ambulance before she was transported to hospital for further medical care.
The incident was concluded shortly after 12h00 on Sunday.
WSAR would like to extend a sincere thank you to Medhold Medical for their generous donation of emergency space blankets. Some of these were distributed during the recent West Coast Athletic Club safety evening - and in this case, one of them was used exactly as intended to help protect a collapsed hiker from the harsh sun.
We’d also like to recognise the runner who raised the alarm, Stephanie Crossland, who will soon be taking on the Cableway Charity Challenge to raise funds for charity.
If you’d like to support this Good Samaritan, you can back Stephanie’s efforts as she prepares for the challenge. Your support will help power an amazing initiative that gives back to the community.
You can sponsor her here:
https://www.charitychallenge.co.za/sponsor-a-participant/47
This incident highlights the importance of WSAR’s safety call-to-action: Safe My Mate. Whether you’re hiking, running, or exploring the outdoors, looking out for one another can make all the difference.
Quick thinking, simple equipment, and the willingness to step in and help, can prevent a situation from becoming far more serious.
WSAR wishes the patient a speedy recovery and thanks Stephanie, and all responding teams for their swift actions in the heat.
If you encounter an emergency in the mountains, call 021 937 0300.
• Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a network of government agencies, and civilian volunteer organisations, who partner in search and rescue.
• Save and share the correct Emergency Contact Number - 021 937 0300
• Please support us - https://wsar.org.za/support-us/
Photo by Blake Dyason
