NCA SUCCESS REPORT
WC – HERMANUS RESPONSE TEAM
01/12/2024
14:09
A member of the NCA Response Team from the Western Cape has requested assistance regarding his father-in-law, who went to a farm near Talan/Overberg on Saturday for work and has not returned home. The missing person’s cell phone is inoperable, preventing any contact. The family has provided all known information, including the farm’s location. The South African Police Service (SAPS) was notified.
A NCA Responder from the area, along with SAPS, has been sent to the farm. During their search, the family discovered the missing person’s diary, which contained directions and gate access codes. This information was shared with SAPS and the NCA Responder. However, due to poor cell phone reception in the area, the messages were only received when the responders returned to Montague. At the gate where they had to turn back due to it being locked, no footprints or vehicle tracks were found.
Further details revealed that the missing person communicated with his family at 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, indicating he would be taking a dirt road and would soon lose signal; this was the last known contact.
The NCA Hermanus branch reached out to the family and learned of the missing person’s medical condition, noting that he did not take any medication with him. A list of his medications has been provided.
Cameras captured the missing person’s vehicle heading towards Zandfontein Bush Camp, where it turned around just a minute later. All farms in that vicinity were contacted, but no one reported seeing him.
Local farmers were informed and shared the information within their networks to aid in the search.
At 19:46, the NCA contacted Lady Smit EMS Search & Rescue, outlining the situation.
There was a Thermal Drone sent up by a farmer from the area, other farmers drove patrols and surveyed all turn-off paths. Without success.
On Monday morning, a visit was made to the farm where the missing person was supposed to have gone to work. There was no sign of him or that he was there.
Throughout the course of Monday morning, there was a light aircraft as well as Drones assisting in search.
There were other clues followed up as well, which were not in line with facts after further investigation.
NCA is liaising with Head of Search & Rescue Mission to assist.
NCA is requested by Chief of Operations to activate a helicopter and K9. Helicopter was activated and the tracking dogs from a nearby game farm were dispatched to the scene.
16:34 We receive the wonderful news that the missing person has been located by a K9. He was weak and dehydrated, medical personnel stabilize patient while waiting for helicopter to be airlifted to George Provincial Hospital.
NCA notified the family that person has been found and that they are waiting for a helicopter.
After patient admission was confirmed, NCA sent a Chaplain to the hospital for support, and to establish communication between patient and family.
On Tuesday, a NCA Responder took the family to the hospital for visitation. Meanwhile, the patient was discharged and is home recovering.
NCA would like to sincerely thank every member of the community for their contribution, participation and the perseverance displayed, as well as the EMS & Rescue Team and ever It was a privilege to working with you. Sincere thanks also to the EMS & Rescue team.
