MEMBERS of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team were called out three times in recent days, with one of the incidents involving a search and rescue helicopter rushing from its base in Wales. Volunteers from the Newcastle-based charity were called out last Wednesday (7 February) afternoon, and then again on Saturday and Sunday. The midweek rescue saw the Caernarfonbased aircraft, which is part of the UK Coastguard fleet, called in to airlift an injured walker, and those who had gone to their aid, on Wednesday afternoon.
The operation swung into place at around 2.45pm when volunteers from the Newcastle charity were requested to help the walker, who had sustained a lower leg injury between Slieve Lamagan and Cove Mountain. MMRT members responded and, due to the location of the injured party and the challenges of extracting them from the scene, it was decided to request air support. The helicopter was able to lift a party of team members who were on their way to the scene. They then stabilised the casualty before flying them down to a team vehicle for transfer to the roadside and onward transit to hospital. A dozen MMRT volunteers responded to this incident, which concluded at 7pm.
The next call for help came in shortly after 8am on Saturday, when the team were asked to assist a walker who suffered a knee injury on Slieve Donard. Once on scene, the walker’s injury was assessed before they were carried by stretcher to awaiting team vehicles, for onward transport to safety. Fourteen volunteers were involved in this rescue. The following day, 13 members of the team went to the aid of a walker who had taken ill in Mourne Park, outside Kilkeel. Once the person was located within the grounds, their condition was evaluated and they, like the previous day’s incident, were then stretchered to a team vehicle for onward transport.
