Four people who went missing after their helicopter lost contact inside the Kruger National Park have been found alive and unharmed after spending a night stranded in dense bush.
The group, a pilot, two SAPS investigators, and an environmental crime officer disappeared on Monday while conducting an investigation into a reported carcass inside the park, triggering an urgent search operation.
Provincial spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the team landed due to bad weather and thick vegetation before continuing on foot but later lost track of the helicopter and were unable to re-establish communication.
“From the report that we got, they arrived; however, due to the rains, the bush is too thick. They actually stopped and left the helicopter and walked for a very long distance, and they did what they had to do in terms of investigation. But when they had to go back to the helicopter, that's when they went around and could not locate where the chopper was. And also, the issue of connectivity was a challenge.”
Mdhluli said the group was forced to spend the night in the bush after failing to reconnect with their aircraft or establish contact. The alarm was raised later that evening when they did not return as expected, prompting a coordinated search involving helicopters and drones.
Adverse weather conditions hampered initial efforts, forcing air support to be withdrawn overnight, while drone teams continued combing the area.
Search operations resumed on Tuesday morning with additional resources, including a helicopter deployed by SANParks, which eventually located the group after they were spotted signalling for help.
All four occupants were found safe and without injuries.
The Star
