Herdsmen plunge into gorge while hunting for cattle
EMERGENCY workers battled for hours to rescue one of three herdsmen who plunged into a gorge at a Blinkwater farm near Fort Beaufort.
The farm, which is known as Gqugesi, is about 25km north of the town.
The herdsman was lifted out of the gorge at 9am yesterday after a search- and-rescue operation that started at midnight on Saturday.
The other two, who have confirmed via cellphone that they are safe, are believed to be hiking out of the area.
The herdsmen are thought to have slipped and fallen down the mountainside while searching in the rain on Saturday night for missing cattle.
Two helicopters – one from the police and another from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – helped in the search for the men.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the rescue unit from nearby Alice had been sent to the scene immediately after the department was notified by police.
“It was difficult terrain and the EMS helicopter was called to assist,” Kupelo said.
The helicopter was used to take ropes and rescuers to the scene.
The air search was later joined by the K9 unit from East London and police officers from Fort Beaufort and Alice. “Our rescue [teams] could hear the victims but were unable to reach them because of the terrain,” Kupelo said.
The rescued herdsman was slightly injured and taken by ambulance to Fort Beaufort Hospital.
Kupelo said the other two herdsmen were believed to be hiking out of the area.
Fort Beaufort police spokeswoman Captain Siya Nontshinga said the two herdsmen were still classified as missing.
“When they are called on their cellphones they say they are safe, but we have not reached them yet,” Nontshinga said yesterday.
“We want to make sure they are home safe before we can officially call off the rescue operation.”
The men are said to be working on a farm in the Blinkwater area.
‘ It was difficult terrain and the EMS helicopter was called to assist