Midnight cliff rescue brings lost pup safely home Hillcrest Estate

The Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) in the Western Cape staged a carefully coordinated rescue to reunite a curious pup with its owner in the early hours of Sunday morning.  

Young German Shorthaired Pointer, Sable, was stranded on a cliff at Hillcrest Estate quarry after climbing 20 meters up the 80-meter cliff face.

The owner found him stranded on a small perch and alerted search and rescue.

Spokesperson David Nel explained that the rescue involved a team of experts from the WSAR and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service working in the dark to reach the dog.

 "We received a call just before 10 pm [on Saturday], and we didn't know much about the situation at that point, except that there was a stranded dog on a cliff.”

He highlighted the importance of building trust with the dog, using socialised harnesses and a skilled technician to carefully lower the dog to safety. 

“The cliff was quite a big one, and it was pitch black, which made it even more challenging for the rescue team.

“We had to be very careful not to knock any material down, so we entered from a place that we thought was the safest to get to where he was."

He emphasised the importance of calling for professional help when dealing with a situation like this, rather than tackling it alone.

"If you think you need help, don't wait, call us. We have the skills and expertise to handle these situations safely and effectively.”

To listen to Nel in conversation with CapeTalk’s Pippa Hudson, click the audio player below: