Амфибийный вездеход Sherp спас группу туристов и смотрителя в горах Дракенберг после снежной бури

A Sherp multi-purpose amphibious vehicle, supplied by DCD Protected Mobility for search and rescue efforts in KwaZulu-Natal following heavy snowfall in the area, has helped rescue four stranded hikers and a caretaker in the Drakensberg mountains. A Northern Drakensberg hiking adventure took an unexpected turn when severe weather and snow left a caretaker and hiking group stranded at Sentinel Peak Car Park in the Northern Drakensberg. The hikers became stranded at the Sentinel Peak Hut at the car park after their vehicles became stuck in the snow. SARZA, a volunteer search and rescue organisation, reported the hikers made every effort to self-rescue, but as snowy conditions persisted and supplies ran low, they knew it was time to call for help. SARZA teams in three vehicles fitted with snow chains, from Gauteng and the Free State, together with a Sherp vehicle, braved snow, rain and gale-force winds to reach them and bring everyone down safely. The hikers were stuck since Monday night, and were rescued on Wednesday night. SARZA thanked the DCD Group for making their Sherp available to SARZA, Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge for allowing them to use their facilities as a joint operations centre, ER24 EMS for being available for medical treatment and Specialised Industrial Supplies for assisting with equipment. An extreme cold front this week brought snow, rain and strong wind across much of the country, with disruptive snow falling in parts of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State. This week’s Sherp rescue was not the first in KwaZulu-Natal. In September 2024, DCD deployed one of the vehicles following heavy snowfall that amongst others trapped motorists on the Van Reenen Pass. The Sherp was also in action along South Africa’s borders over the Easter period this year, when DCD Protected Mobility deployed the Sherp and two Springbuck armoured vehicles to support the operations of the Border Management Authority (BMA) at select border posts. The capability of the Sherp to move in difficult terrain was cited as a factor in enhancing the effectiveness of the BMA’s border patrols. The Sherp multi-purpose amphibious vehicle is offered by DCD for military, search and rescue, mining, private and other applications. It is manufactured by Quadro International. The first vehicle was produced in 2012. In 2018 the company became an official provider for the United Nations and in 2019 received a UN award. More than a thousand vehicles have been sold around the world – most customers are non-private entities, including NGOs and mining companies. The vehicle comes in several variants. The Sherp UTV was the first model produced, followed by the Sherp Pro in 2017; the Sherp Ark and Sherp Shuttle followed in 2019 and the Sherp N 1200 in 2020. The Sherp Ark adds a 6×6 trailer to the vehicle while the Sherp Shuttle is a boat that can carry and launch two Sherp vehicles. The Sherp Pro can carry six people or more than 1 000 kg payload. It has a top speed of 40 km/h on land and 6 km/h on water. It can operate in -40 to +40 degree conditions. The Sherp Ark can carry four people in the main vehicle and 18 in the trailer.