An American woman who went missing while hiking on South Africa’s Table Mountain has been found dead, according to officials, reported the BBC.
Brook Cheuvront was a 20-year-old student from North Carolina. She had been in Cape Town for an internship with a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Cheuvront was reported missing on Saturday after the tracking app she was using during a solo hike stopped updating and her friends could not reach her.Later, her body was discovered the following day on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, which is a mountainous area within Table Mountain National Park.
South African National Parks (SANParks) said Cheuvront had left her accommodation around noon on Saturday to embark on the hike. However, concern grew when her tracking app failed to update, which prompted her friends to contact the police.
Rangers and wilderness search-and-rescue teams immediately launched a search, but efforts were called off late on Saturday. A helicopter resumed the search on Sunday, leading to the discovery of her body.
SANParks confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cheuvront’s death is ongoing, with an autopsy expected to determine the cause.
She was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before her tragic death. She was well-known in her hometown for her excellent academic performance, especially as part of the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship program. This program provided her with opportunities to study abroad.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Cheuvront’s father, Steve Cheuvront, expressed the family’s devastation, writing, “God help me and us.”
Despite concerns from some quarters, South African authorities have denied any significant issues with crime in Table Mountain National Park. They have urged hikers to avoid venturing out alone, in an effort to ensure safety.