Sadness as trail runner’s body found on mountain
Hundreds of volunteers joined in the search
THE three-day search on Table Mountain for well-known trail runner Ken Stephen ended tragically yesterday, when his body was found on the mountain slope.
Stephen, 36, was last seen leaving his apartment, heading for a mountain run on Monday afternoon.
His friends alerted search crews about his disappearance on Monday night when he did not return. His parked car was found on Tafelberg Road.
Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams initiated a search at midnight and by yesterday, about 61 teams and 500 people had volunteered and joined in the search.
WSAR spokesperson Johann Marais said the body, which had the same clothes Stephen was last seen wearing, was spotted at around 3pm on the mountain slopes below Table Mountain’s Africa Face by the crew of a private helicopter engaged by his father.
The Pink Ladies Organisation also posted a missing person alert on social media, saying he was last seen wearing pink shorts, a dark jacket and blue and black running shoes.
“We can now confirm that the body of the person we have been searching for has been found. The wallet, car keys and the clothing confirmed his identity.
“The body will later have to be identified by the family,” Marais said.
“The location where he was found indicates that he may have fallen from a high location. We extend our condolences to the family, his friends and the trail running fraternity.
“WSAR wishes to acknowledge the assistance we had from Working on Fire, volunteers from the trail running fraternity and other volunteers who were meaningfully employed in the search, without failing to mention our own volunteers for a job well done,” said Marais.
According to Marais, Stephen’s phone was geo-located on the slopes below Lion’s Head throughout the day on Tuesday, but a search of the area above Nettleton Road, using dogs and a helicopter, proved fruitless.
The spot where his phone was last located is a relatively long distance from where the body was spotted.
Messages of condolences have been pouring in for Stephen’s family and friends from various trail running clubs and search rescue teams.