Rock climber dies after five metre fall
By Odette Ismail05 June 2007
Durbanville rock-climber Francois Goosen (23), who fell five metres after a boulder fell on him while rock-climbing at Silvermine on Sunday, did not survive his fall. Goosen a resident of Sonstraal Heights, went rock-climbing with three friends.
They were on a steep section of the Constantia Nek side of the Lower Silvermine Crag when the accident happened. Spokesperson for the Table Mountain National Park, Phumeza Mgxashe told a daily paper, Goosen’s friends called emergency services after he was hit on his head. The knock causied him to fall onto a ledge.
Mgxashe says a visitor on the mountain, who was a doctor, tried to give Goosen CPR but he did not respond. It is believed that he died 15 minutes after he was struck on the head. A Red Cross Air Mercy Service doctor and a SAPS helicopter were sent to help Goosen, but he was already dead when they arrived on the scene.
Goosen was airlifted after three hours. Reports reveal that the four did not have any ropes or helmets to assist them with the climb. Police have opened an inquest into the death of Goosen.
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