Alberton family stuck in Harties Cableway for four hours

The cableway has since been closed as it needs to be investigated and repaired.

GETTING stuck mid-air, somewhere between your destination on a mountain top and mother earth – on a cableway – is sure to bring about panic.

IRONIC: Moments before being stuck in the cable cart, the mother and daughters took this funny photo.

On July 22, at around midday, a family of four along with a young couple they did not know, got stuck in the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway for over four hours after a mechanical error occurred.The Jacobs family from New Redruth shares their story with the CHRONICLE.

Their initial plan was to give their young daughters, three-year-old Olivia and Victoria (six months), the unforgettable experience of travelling up the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway to take in the beautiful view of the mountain. Their trip, however, turned out very differently.

BABY IN A BAG: Little Victoria peeking out of the bag in which she was lowered to safety.

After the mechanical error occurred, there was not much else to do besides sitting and waiting for help to arrive. It was up to the parents, Bronwyn (29) and Kyle (30), to keep their daughters entertained and calm whilst dealing with their own sense of panic.

“We soon realised that even though we were stressed, we could not show any signs of panic as the children would pick it up,” said Bronwyn. “On the inside, I couldn’t stop worrying about how long we were going to be stuck and whether Victoria would have enough food and water during that time.”

To the rescue

CABLEWAY: The Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway as rescuers attempt to save those stuck inside.

By climbing onto a nearby tower and zip-lining from there to the cable cart, the rescuers were able to get to those who were stuck. After they eventually arrived, the electronic doors of the cart had to be pried open with brute strength, by Kyle and one of the rescuers.

The young couple was lowered first with harnesses because maximum space was needed in the cable cart to lower the four family members.

First Kyle and Olivia were lowered. Then Bronwyn and Victoria followed. Because Victoria is still so small, it was risky to tie her directly to her mother’s harness. Instead, she was placed inside a red bag, zipped up and tightly secured to her mother’s side. The two were then very briskly lowered to safety. “All I could think of was to hold my baby close to me and never letting go,” said Bronwyn. “I was extremely relieved when we were all safely on the ground.”

The cableway has since been closed as it needs to be repaired and the incident needs to be investigated. There were 125 people stuck at the top of the mountain – luckily, they were all airlifted via helicopter or driven down the mountain in 4×4 vehicles.

“I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to MCSA Search and Rescue for doing such an excellent ‘rescue job’,” said Bronwyn. “A special thanks to Graham Terrell who was so amazing at keeping Olivia and Victoria entertained and distracted from what was happening. After we were rescued, we even received water and cool drink and the girls got sweetie packets. We really appreciated it!”

On second thought

TO THE RESCUE: The MCSA Search and Rescue team prepares to rescue the stuck family.

As they look back, both parents feel very relieved that everyone is fine. They are very impressed with MCSA Search and Rescue’s great work. Bronwyn, however, says she will not go back to Hartbeespoort Aerial Cable Way any time soon – she needs time to get over what happened. On the other hand, Kyle says he will definitely go again, because he really wants his girls to have the experience they initially went for.

“At least being stuck in such a small space for four hours taught us to have patience and to stay calm at all times, especially when children are involved,” said Bronwyn.