Police pilot Florentina Dumbu evacuates 68 hikers from flooded Fish River Canyon

The rescue operation, which took six hours, followed heavy rains that led NamWater to release water from the Naute Dam, causing the canyon to flood. Dolf de Wet, co-owner of White House guest farm, praised Dumbu, stating, “There was a woman pilot, she was a machine flying people out before the main flood came.” Dumbu, accompanied by airborne law enforcement officers Elvis Nzwala and Gustav Isaaks, received the call for assistance on Sunday before 16:00.

The helicopter departed Windhoek on Monday morning, arriving at Hobas at 09:30 and completing the rescue by 16:00. Despite low clouds, the team searched for hikers, relying on information from rangers and flying low and slow. Dumbu, who has conducted rescue operations since 2011, expressed joy that lives were saved and hikers returned home unharmed.

Hiker Eric McLaren, who was in the canyon for the 34th time, recalled the water rising quickly and the dam water engulfing the riverbed on Monday. He remembered Dumbu from a 2022 rescue and described her as cool-headed and professional. Eamónn Scholtz, another hiker, was in awe of her professionalism.

Sarah-Lee de Greeff mentioned a hiker being swept 500m in the water. ||Kharas regional police commissioner Marius Katamila confirmed 68 of 96 hikers were flown out, with others reaching exit points, expressing gratitude for the timely evacuation.