THE Mourne Mountain Rescue Team responded to a number of call-outs over the Christmas holidays. Volunteers from the Newcastle charity were tasked on 18, 27 and 29 December, to incidents ranging from a cross-border operation in a bid to locate someone who had asked for help, to assisting an injured walker and mountain biker. Whilst the first of these call-outs, which was relayed from the Republic of Ireland’s 999 emergency system, did not lead to anyone being rescued, the team appealed for those calling for help to keep searchers updated when possible, and especially if they have been able to get themselves out of a difficult situation, with assistance no longer required. The alarm was raised shortly after 2pm, with the team requested by the PSNI to assist an individual who stated they were “stuck” in the Mournes. A representative of the team explained that, unfortunately, the caller was cut off before any further information could be provided and that their telephone number could not be traced. “The caller was clearly in a position where they felt they required assistance, given the fact that they dialled 999, alongside evident distress in their voice,” a spokesman for the group explained. He added that, as the initial call was routed via the Irish 999 system, police liaised with the Gardai in a bid to trace the caller’s number. “While this was under way, local police carried out checks of key car parks to eliminate options on the assumption that the caller had driven to the mountains. “With the team on standby due to a lack of information, six team coordinators joined with members of the PSNI and cleared lesser known access points.”
Eventually by 8pm, all car parks and access points had been cleared, and all vehicles and their drivers accounted for. With the caller’s number untraceable, and no further calls from the initial caller or a third party, the team was stood down, pending further information. Taking to the rescue team’s social media accounts, a representative posted: ‘If you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel the need to call for assistance, please don’t delay. But likewise if you manage to rectify the situation under your own steam after calling, please do let us know… We’ll not be upset.’ The MMRT representative also put on record the team’s thanks to the PSNI and An Gardai Siochanna plus the UK Coastguard and Irish Coast Guard for what was described as “their background assistance”. The second call over the festive period saw 14 team members take part in helping an injured mountain biker in Castlewellan Forest Park, who it was initially feared had sustained “potentially lifethreatening injuries”.
However, thankfully upon their arrival, it was ascertained the casualty was not as seriously injured as first reported and in the care of the Air Ambulance crew. With the assistance of NI Fire and Rescue Service personnel who were also called to the scene, the biker was taken to an awaiting ambulance and then transferred to hospital. The final call of the year for the mountain rescue team saw some of its members responding to help a member of a walking group who sustained a head injury after falling whilst descending a track near Drinahilly in Newcastle’s Donard Wood. After providing first aid and carrying out assessments at the scene, they transported the injured person via vehicle to Donard Park and handed them into the care of the NI Ambulance Service. In the lead-up to the holiday period, the team also took the opportunity to thank the public, and various agencies and emergency services, for their assistance throughout 2023. ‘It’s been another busy year for the team, continuing to provide a voluntary 24/7 emergency service in often challenging circumstances,’ their statement read. ‘Whether through work or play, we appreciate the necessity and value of being outdoors and as such, the risks often associated.
As always, our thoughts are very much with those that we’ve been privileged to assist throughout the year.’ Thanking partner agencies such as the PSNI, including their search and rescue assets and air support crews, in addition to the Ambulance Service, the Irish Coast Guard, Newcastle Coastguard, the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland North), the fire service and other mountain rescue teams, the statement also conveyed the team’s thanks to local landowners, businesses and the wider community for their ‘help and generosity’.