Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR)

Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) is a team collaboration between government agencies, including the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and passionate volunteer organisations who all partner in search and rescue.

WSAR manages and executes appropriate responses for the purpose of searching for the medical treatment of and the rescue of persons and/or patients whose health and/or safety is threatened or compromised in a Wilderness Environment.

With increasing numbers of locals and visitors venturing out into the beautiful wilderness spaces in the Western Cape, there has been an exponential increase in the number of wilderness emergency callouts. To adapt to this and continue to provide and appropriate emergency response, WSAR constantly looks at innovative ways to improve safety, patient care and rescue techniques.

For the period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023, WSAR teams responded to 234 incidents, rescuing, or recovering 369 patients from wilderness areas.