One of the greatest pleasures Cape Town has to offer is free access to jaw-droppingly beautiful mountain walks. But please take care in the wild, kids. A tragic accident took place yesterday on a Table Mountain trail, resulting in a lethal fall for a local hiker.

Capetonian Mark Roux was hiking on the India Venster trail yesterday with Henry Herman of Chicago, Illinois, when Roux fell 40 metres to his death.

It seems the two men had moved away from the track and decided to climb up the side of the mountain.  Roux slipped, and tumbled down the slope. When he came to rest, he was dead. Herman, who had become trapped on a ledge, was rescued by helicopter.

While the India Venster route is known as one of the most dangerous walking trails on the mountain, Table Mountain National Park spokesperson Merle Collins emphasised yesterday that none of Table Mountain’s hiking routes were dangerous if people stayed on the trail.

She described yesterday’s incident as a tragedy and stressed the importance of taking the appropriate precautions when hiking on the mountain.

“Hikers should ensure they are wearing the right clothes and shoes when they go hiking. Enough water and an emergency number, should you get into trouble, are also essential.”

[Source: Die Burger]