‘I Owe Them My Life’ – Workers Carry Injured Tourist to Safety at Robberg

Rosalind will never forget the day when she took a tumble in South Africa, and three kind strangers stepped in to save her.

Western Cape, South Africa (20 February 2026) – A hike along Robberg Nature Reserve took a painful turn for London tourist Rosalind Innes after she slipped on a rock and broke her ankle.

Rosalind and her husband had been exploring around the reserve when the accident happened. The rocky and uneven path back was impossible to manage with the injury. The weather was only getting worse. They knew that going back alone wasn’t an option.

That’s when CapeNature EPWP general worker Vuyani Charlie, who was busy with trail maintenance nearby, was alerted by Rosalind’s husband. He immediately grasped how serious the situation was, and without hesitation, he told them he would get help.

After climbing to higher ground to find a cell signal, Vuyani managed to contact the field rangers on duty, Charles Minnaar and Petrus Lamini. The rangers were on the Island section of Robberg at the time, meaning they still had to navigate their way across to reach Rosalind.

“Together, the three men worked with calm precision and compassionate care, navigating slippery rocks, supporting Ms Innes’ injured leg, and shielding her from the harsh elements. What followed was a gruelling four-hour rescue effort, requiring physical endurance, teamwork, and unrelenting determination to bring her to safety.” shares CapeNature.

Rosalind says she still gets emotional thinking about it.

“I truly do not know what I would have done without them,” she said. “I owe them my life, particularly Vuyani Charlie, as I was simply not strong enough to get out on my own. They kept me calm and safe, and supported me both physically and mentally through a horrendous ordeal.”

Once safely off the reserve, she was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Kindness is a quality South Africans have in abundance. Most of our people are good people. We help ducks cross the road. We take care of the needy. We do what we can to spread positivity and light. And when there’s a stranger in distress, we don’t think twice about helping.

“Our field rangers are more than custodians of our natural heritage – they are protectors, guides, and often the first responders when things go wrong. Their rapid assessment, coordinated response, and sustained effort over several hours ensured the safe recovery and evacuation of a stranded hiker under challenging conditions. They turned a potentially devastating situation into a story of hope, resilience, and teamwork. These continue to be our South African themes.” shares CapeNature CEO, Dr Ashley Naidoo.

Heroes don’t wear capes, they work for CapeNature!

Sources: CapeNature.

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