Emergecy services tasked to attend walkers in Mournes

Emergecy services tasked to attend walkers in Mournes

23 September 2020

THE Mourne Mountain Rescue Team had a very busy weekend responding to six emergency calls to help walkers who sustained a variety of injuries.

Rescue team members responded to one call for help last Friday, three on Saturday afternoon and two on Sunday afternoon.

During Saturday’s emergencies, a Coastguard helicopter airlifted two casualties to safety.

Last Friday at noon, volunteers were tasked to assist an injured mountain biker who sustained shoulder and head injuries after a fall in the Castlewellan mountain bike trails. 

Rescue team volunteers — who were joined by Ambulance Service paramedics, Air Ambulance staff and Forest Service personnel — were able to carry the injured biker to a waiting ambulance for transfer to hospital.

Three volunteers responded to the emergency call and were stood down at 1pm. 

Early on Saturday afternoon, rescue team members were asked to assist a walker who sustained a lower leg injury at the col between Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh.

The casualty was treated and stabilised, with the rescue team requesting air support from a Coast Guard helicopeter for evacuating the injured walker to hospital.

As this incident was being dealt with, a second call for help was received just before 2.30pm to assist another walker who had fallen on the track between the Hare’s Gap and Bearnagh Quarry.

Rescue team volunteers were diverted to deal with this particular incident and made their way to the scene where they treated the female walker before packaging her for evacuation. 

The Coast Guard’s Rescue helicopter was able to land at the Donard Commedagh col to take on the first casualty and then went to the scene of the second incident, winching the casualty on board to transfer both injured walkers to hospital. 

While these two incidents were in progress, a third request for help received just before 2.45pm to assist a walker who had sustained a knee injury while descending the Glen River track.

The casualty’s friends were able to assist her to the top bridge in Donard Forest where a rescue team member was able to evacuate her to onward transport in a team vehicle. 

The rescue team would like to thank the Belfast Coastguard for its assistance and the Meelmore Lodge accommodation and amenity site for much appreciated sustenance at the end of a fairly intense day.

The 16 members who responded to the three incidents were stood down at 7pm

On Sunday afternoon, just before 3.40pm, rescue team members went to the assistance of a female walker who slipped and sustained a lower leg injury while descending Slieve Donard. 

The woman was treated and packaged before being carried by stretcher to the Donard/Commedagh col for transfer to Irish Coastguard Rescue helicopter 116 for onward transport to hospital. 

While responding to the first call on Saturday afternoon, a second request for help came in at 4pm to assist a walker who had fallen on the Carrick Little track, suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Volunteers made their way to the scene where they treated the walker before the person was transported via a mountain rescue team vehicle to the roadside and handed over to Ambulance Service paramedics.

Fourteen team members who responded to Saturday’s emergency calls were stood down at 8.30pm.