GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - After spending more than two days stranded in freezing and flooded conditions in Meiringspoort, 24-year-old Brayton Harten and 56-year-old Izil Roberts were safely rescued on Thursday, 8 May, at approximately 13:00.
According to the Garden Route District Municipality, the two men became trapped during the early hours of Tuesday, 6 May, while travelling towards Willowmore after severe weather and dangerous flooding rendered the route impassable. Authorities confirmed that the poort was still officially open at the time the pair became stranded.
The men were travelling in a small truck with a trailer when floodwaters prevented them from continuing. They eventually abandoned the vehicle and sought shelter higher up in the mountains at what appeared to be a small gas bottle storage structure.
The trapped vehicle in Meiringspoort. Photo: GRDM
Cold, exhausted and completely cut off from assistance for nearly 60 hours, the pair remained stranded as severe weather continued to batter the region.
A coordinated rescue operation involving emergency response teams and a helicopter from the Western Cape Government Department of Health Emergency Medical Services was launched to bring the men to safety.
The rescue operation was successfully completed on Thursday afternoon 7 May, bringing relief to both the stranded travellers and rescue personnel who have been working around the clock across the flood-affected region.
A mother and her newborn have been rescued after being airlifted from Calitzdorp Hot Springs by a Department of Health Emergency Medical Service Helicopter. Photo: GRDM
Mother and baby rescued
In a separate rescue operation, a mother and her newborn baby were also airlifted to safety from Calitzdorp Hot Springs after rising floodwaters from the Olifants River cut off access to the road leading to their residence, leaving them isolated from medical services.
The air rescue was carried out by a Department of Health Emergency Medical Services helicopter piloted by Graham Archibald of the AMS SA Red Cross Emergency Service.
The Garden Route District Municipality said emergency teams continue to respond to incidents linked to the severe weather conditions that have caused widespread flooding, road closures and damage across parts of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo.
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