Monday, 20 May 2013
Helderberg Bites Back!

Over 550 trail runners arrived at the Helderberg Nature Reserve on Sunday morning for the fourth Helderberg Mountain Challenge (HMC).

Despite the perfect weather conditions, there was still plenty of drama as the runners pushed the envelope on technical mountain trails……………………..

” Click on the following link to read the full story http://wildrunner.ning.com/profiles/blogs/helderberg-mountain-bites-back

RESCUES A STARK REMINDER

8:39 The call came in to the Wildrunner emergency mobile phone that a runner had taken a serious fall around the 8km mark and needed assistance. Wildrunner disaster management processes kicked in and after an initial assessment by the event medic, the decision was taken to call metro and ask for a Skymed (helicopter) rescue – the reason: suspected hip fracture. At 11am this patient was transferred to an ambulance at the event landing zone and taken to hospital. This runner has written the following blog: http://itrainedtoday.com/races/trail-running-emergencies/

9:38 Another call was received from another runner requiring assistance just off the highest point at around 1000m on West Peak, reportedly with a broken ankle. 3 minutes later, a check-point crew member from West Peak was with her to assess the situation and the decision was taken that she also needed a Skymed rescue. She was collected by Skymed at 11:32 and dropped at the LZ at 11:37. She received treatment for a torn & sprained ankle and is already recovering well under physio treatement.

10:49 A radio call was received from check -point 2 crew that a runner had broken her ankle at the check-point. She was brought down off the mountain by vehicle and was treated by the event medics at 11:27. She was ambulanced to hospital after her severely damaged angle was splinted for the journey. Doctors report a severely dislocated and broken ankle which has already undergone a reset & surgery at Cape Town Medi-Clinic. A permanent plate has been inserted into her ankle and recovery will consist of 3 weeks in bed followed by 3 months of treatment.

Our thoughts and get-well wishes go out to all of the runners injured during the HMC, and we hope for a speedy recovery.