Pilot survives three days in Kalahari
Anri Cronje , Die Volksblad
Upington - A Johannesburg pilot who went missing en route to Upington on Sunday was found alive late on Wednesday after three-and-a-half days in the Kalahari Desert, south of Botswana.
Charles Wooler, who's in his 60s, was taken to the nearest town, Tsabong, for a medical check-up, but a friend, Chris Martinus, 52, said the pilot was in "good condition".
Olefile Moakofi, Botswana's director of civil aviation, said Wooler was found near Khawa, an informal settlement in the Kalahari desert.
"He heard a helicopter, which was part of the search-and-rescue team, and ran in its direction.
Botswana soldiers then found him.
Left letter at plane
Wooler's Diamond Katana plane was found on Wednesday morning northeast of Bokspits, by a search-and-rescue team.
The aircraft apparently is still in one piece.
Wooler left a letter for rescue workers and his wife, Maggie, at the plane, saying he was heading south. In the letter, he told his wife that he loved her.
The letter was dated Monday 11:00, indicating that he had been walking in search of help since then.
Hopes of finding Wooler waned at one stage, because it had rained in the area, and his tracks had been washed away.
Wooler was flying just ahead of Martinus on Sunday when he disappeared without a trace somewhere between Keetmanshoop in Namibia and Upington.
Sapa reports that Martinus, asked why Wooler had made the forced landing, replied: "Probably because he ran out of fuel."
However, he had not yet spoken to Wooler about what happened and said he was probably going to be incommunicado for a while.
Martinus said: "He was way off course."
Martinus said he and a group of Wooler's friends from Krugersdorp Flying Club who rushed to Upington to help search for their friend, were definitely planning to celebrate his rescue.
"We're just so relieved that he's alive."
Rescue workers of South African Search-and-Rescue (Sasar) as well as the Namibian and Botswana governments took part in the huge search for Wooler.
Sasar spokesperson Santjie White told Volksblad: "The most important thing for us is that he's still alive.
"The South African consulate in Botswana is making sure that he's OK. We want to arrange to get him home as quickly as possible for his and his family's sake."
White had spoken to Maggie Wooler, who was overjoyed at the news.
White said: "It was a difficult search. Wooler was about 36 degrees off course."
Wooler and Martinus took off from Keetmanshoop about 10:15 on Sunday.
Left plane at Swakopmund
They were scheduled to stop at Upington customs en route to Krugersdorp, but Martinus landed at Upington at 12:05 on his own.
The pair had gone to Swakopmund at the weekend to collect Wooler's Diamond Katana.
Wooler, a member of Krugersdorp Flying Club and an experienced pilot, had to leave his plane at the Namibian coast in November last year because of ignition problems.
At the time, Wooler, his wife and several of his flying mates from Krugersdorp were in Namibia on a 3 500km trip. - Volksblad/Sapa
Article from www.news24.com
He should have arranged that we meet him with a car - available all over @ www.southafrica-carhire.com. We are glad to hear that you are well.
Upington - A Johannesburg pilot who went missing en route to Upington on Sunday was found alive late on Wednesday after three-and-a-half days in the Kalahari Desert, south of Botswana.
Charles Wooler, who's in his 60s, was taken to the nearest town, Tsabong, for a medical check-up, but a friend, Chris Martinus, 52, said the pilot was in "good condition".
Olefile Moakofi, Botswana's director of civil aviation, said Wooler was found near Khawa, an informal settlement in the Kalahari desert.
"He heard a helicopter, which was part of the search-and-rescue team, and ran in its direction.
Botswana soldiers then found him.
Left letter at plane
Wooler's Diamond Katana plane was found on Wednesday morning northeast of Bokspits, by a search-and-rescue team.
The aircraft apparently is still in one piece.
Wooler left a letter for rescue workers and his wife, Maggie, at the plane, saying he was heading south. In the letter, he told his wife that he loved her.
The letter was dated Monday 11:00, indicating that he had been walking in search of help since then.
Hopes of finding Wooler waned at one stage, because it had rained in the area, and his tracks had been washed away.
Wooler was flying just ahead of Martinus on Sunday when he disappeared without a trace somewhere between Keetmanshoop in Namibia and Upington.
Sapa reports that Martinus, asked why Wooler had made the forced landing, replied: "Probably because he ran out of fuel."
However, he had not yet spoken to Wooler about what happened and said he was probably going to be incommunicado for a while.
Martinus said: "He was way off course."
Martinus said he and a group of Wooler's friends from Krugersdorp Flying Club who rushed to Upington to help search for their friend, were definitely planning to celebrate his rescue.
"We're just so relieved that he's alive."
Rescue workers of South African Search-and-Rescue (Sasar) as well as the Namibian and Botswana governments took part in the huge search for Wooler.
Sasar spokesperson Santjie White told Volksblad: "The most important thing for us is that he's still alive.
"The South African consulate in Botswana is making sure that he's OK. We want to arrange to get him home as quickly as possible for his and his family's sake."
White had spoken to Maggie Wooler, who was overjoyed at the news.
White said: "It was a difficult search. Wooler was about 36 degrees off course."
Wooler and Martinus took off from Keetmanshoop about 10:15 on Sunday.
Left plane at Swakopmund
They were scheduled to stop at Upington customs en route to Krugersdorp, but Martinus landed at Upington at 12:05 on his own.
The pair had gone to Swakopmund at the weekend to collect Wooler's Diamond Katana.
Wooler, a member of Krugersdorp Flying Club and an experienced pilot, had to leave his plane at the Namibian coast in November last year because of ignition problems.
At the time, Wooler, his wife and several of his flying mates from Krugersdorp were in Namibia on a 3 500km trip. - Volksblad/Sapa
Article from www.news24.com
He should have arranged that we meet him with a car - available all over @ www.southafrica-carhire.com. We are glad to hear that you are well.
Labels: South Africa - General
