From Adventure to Rescue: Couple’s 30-Day Motorcycle Journey Cut Short in Tankwa Karoo

What was intended to be a thrilling 30-day motorcycle journey through South Africa, starting from the Tankwa Karoo took a dramatic turn just seven hours into the trip for seasoned riders Neil Dallas and Nicky Heyburgh. 

The couple, with 36 and 8 years of riding experience respectively, set off with excitement, their motorcycles loaded with spare parts and emergency supplies. “For an entire year, Nicky and I immersed ourselves in planning what was meant to be the adventure of a lifetime. A 30-day ride all around South Africa, routes carefully plotted through some of South Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes. That was the dream my wife Nicky and I had attempted now for the third time.”  

The Tankwa Karoo is known for its beauty. The R355 is infamously known as South Africa’s longest unpaved road. “We knew its reputation – remote, challenging, beautiful, and dangerous. With our experience, we felt ready for this trip.”  

“That morning, as we set out, our bikes were loaded with everything we’d need for a month on the road – camping gear, spare parts, emergency supplies.”  Tragedy struck on day one, seven hours into the trip when Nicky lost control of her motorcycle on a deceptive patch of sand, resulting in a severe fall. “I hit the sand pile and flew through the air,” Nicky recalled. “When I hit the ground, I rolled over and over until I stopped. The pain was awful.”  

Neil witnessed the accident unfold and described the moment… “I still see it in slow motion – Nicky’s motorbike hitting that deceptive patch of sand, the bike wavering, and then the fall. When she didn’t get up and I saw her unable to move her arms, my heart stopped. I had no idea if Nicky was going to live or die.”  

In the quietness of the Karoo, their Garmin InReach device became a vital lifeline. Within minutes of pressing the emergency button, they received confirmation that help was on the way. The Western Cape Government Health and Wellness (WCGHW) is collaborating with AMS to ensure that all individuals have equitable access to acute, specialist care at all levels.  As Neil watched over Nicky, he felt a mix of hope and despair until he saw the Department of Health and Wellness EMS/AMS rescue helicopter appear over the horizon. “I broke down. The tears came then, tears of relief, of gratitude, of the realisation that help had finally arrived.” The collaboration between the Department of Health and Wellness Emergency Medical Service control centre and AMS ensured prompt authorisation of the aircraft to airlift Nicky. 

Reflecting on her experience, Nicky said, “I think the only way I can describe it is voices of angels in my head. That’s pretty much what I remember. Before the flight, when they gave me pain medication, from that point on it was just voices. I needed to come here today to meet them, to put faces to those voices, and to see the helicopter that played such a crucial role in my journey. Watching the video Neil took helped me fill in the blanks, and the way your team handled my accident is mind-blowing. It’s something I’ll never forget, and I feel indebted and so appreciative.” 

She continued, “The team are precious people. I just want to wrap them in cotton wool and take them home with me, knowing there are people like them ready to help in times of need. I feel very connected to the team; that will never go away. Whenever I hear a helicopter, it takes me back to this moment. On my way here, I was scared of helicopter noise, but now I have a positive feeling associated with it. If I could change my profession, I would want to be one of them. There can’t be a more rewarding job than what your team does.” 

“Our 30-day adventure lasted just seven hours. But in those seven hours, I learned something invaluable about preparation and perspective,” Neil shared. Nicky’s protective gear played a crucial role in mitigating her injuries. “It wasn’t the adventure we planned, but we lived to tell the tale,” Nicky said, extending her thanks to the Department of Health and Wellness and AMS.  She was airlifted to Vincent Palotti Hospital for further care.  

The Department of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with AMS, provides emergency rescue and air ambulance services using a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The Department of Health and Wellness is collaborating with AMS to ensure that all individuals have equitable access to acute, specialist care at all levels. The Western Cape has two rescue helicopters, one in Cape Town and one in Oudtshoorn, as well as a Pilatus PC 12 fixed-wing aircraft stationed at the AMS base at Cape Town International Airport. 

AMS CEO Farhaad Haffejee emphasised the significance of such moments, stating, “It’s rare for us to receive visits from those we’ve rescued, so this is a special occasion. “Sometimes it’s easy to forget the impact we have on people’s lives. Visits like this remind us of the important work our team does every day. Well done to the AMS team—your dedication truly makes a difference!” 

Neil and Nicky’s story serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of adventure and the strength found in overcoming challenges together. 

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