A teenager had to be airlifted from the Cederberg Mountains after he fell while abseiling, hitting his right leg against a rock face and possibly fracturing it.

The 16-year-old boy was injured yesterday while on a school camp. Andre Oliphant, an Air Mercy Service senior hoist operator and Cape Town base manager, said every year a group of Grade 10 and Grade 12 boys were taken to the Cederberg to abseil, learn survival skills and do team-building exercises.

He said the 16-year-old had been abseiling when his gear apparently failed. "He fell about 10 metres and his back-up gear then held him on to the rocks. But he bashed his leg against the rock face," Oliphant said.

Article: Cape Times

Date: 30 November 2011

Journalist: Cape Times Reporter