Busy few weeks for mountain rescuers

Busy few weeks for mountain rescuers

THE Mourne Mountain Rescue Team went to the assistance of a number of people who got into difficulty during a four-day period earlier this month.

On August 14, the team went to the assistance of a man who was taking part in a mountain exercise who fell at the Silent Valley area sustaining a head injury.

With the assistance of the PSNI helicopter, the rescue team located the man and the other members of his party on the southern slopes of Silent Valley.

The casualty was quickly assessed, treated for head, neck and back injury as a precaution and evacuated by stretcher to the Banns Road area where he was transferred to a waiting ambulance.

On August 16, the rescue team went to the aid of a party of hillwalkers who got into difficulty while on a day out. Two men who had been affected by extreme weather and darkness were located on Slieve Donard in deteriorating conditions.

After being treated briefly on scene for hypothermia, both were evacuated on foot to team vehicles, located at the top bridge of the Glen River Valley. The walkers were taken back to their vehicles in Donard Park. A total of 16 team members were involved.

On August 17, the rescue team received a request for assistance from the PSNI to assist a group of Duke of Edinburgh award scheme participants who were located near the saddle of Slieve Lough Shannagh and Carn Mountain. But on route to the incident the team was stood down and the group were walked off by the leader in charge.

The following day, August 18, the rescue team went to the aid of a woman at the Glen River trail who had fallen, sustaining a serious leg fracture.

The Ambulance Service also attended the scene and when the casualty was stabilised, the 12-man rescue team undertook a prompt evacuation.

On Saturday evening the team went to the assistance of a walker who had fallen and broken his leg on the shores of Spelga Reservoir. He was airlifted to Daisy Hill hospital by the Irish Coastguard helicopter.