Adverse weather conditions, large swells and swollen rivers — a combination of factors which proved fatal for a 35-year-old hiker from Limpopo this week.
The body of Mamolepe Matibidi was found on Wednesday after an extensive search which ended in a drone pilot making the discovery offshore of the Bloukrans River Mouth, in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park.
He had left his hiking party of 11 members at about 1pm on Tuesday and went ahead along the Otter Trail.
SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said rangers joined the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) at the start of search on Tuesday at 3.43pm after he failed to arrive at the overnight rest stop.
“The search resumed at first light today with the support of the SAPS and police search-and-rescue teams.
“Unfortunately, the hiker was found deceased.
“The family of the deceased has been notified by park management and is being supported during this difficult time,” Louw said.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that during the initial search by the remaining 10 hikers, they noticed Matibidi’s backpack afloat on the river at the Otter Trail Bloukrans River Mouth crossing.
“They suspected that he may have tried to cross the river and they raised the alarm, reporting the man to be missing, and reporting that he was suspected to have been swept downriver or out of the river mouth.
“The SA Police Services, police search-and-rescue and SANParks Tsitsikamma rangers, assisted by NSRI Storms River, NSRI Oyster Bay and NSRI Plettenberg Bay, continued a sea and shoreline search from first light on Wednesday.”
He said as the search intensified, air support was investigated, dependent on the weather.
“Duran de Villiers, a local private helicopter and drone pilot, volunteered his EC120 helicopter to assist in the search at the request of NSRI Plettenberg Bay.
“Not finding any signs of the missing man, Duran landed at the landing zone where he then launched a drone and the body of the man was located offshore of the Bloukrans River Mouth.
“Duran and an NSRI rescue swimmer joined SANParks rangers at the river mouth where Duran waded into the water and was able to secure the body of the man to the shoreline.”
Lambinon said the body of the man was taken into the care of the health forensic pathology services.
“Our thoughts, care and compassion are with the family in this difficult time.”
Police have opened an inquest docket.
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