Two casualties saved in helicopter mountain rescue operations in the Mournes

A walker who had taken ill and another who had suffered a debilitating leg injury were saved in the Mournes thanks to helicopter rescues in two separate incidents on Saturday, Mourne Mountain Rescue Team has said.

In the morning, a walker suffered a leg injury after a fall on the west of the Slieve Bearnagh Summit Tor and were winched to a helicopter for rescue.

Just hours later, mountain rescue teams were deployed again after another walker became ill while descending from the Gap of Pollaphuca.

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In the first incident, Irish Coast Guards Rescue 116 from Dublin were deployed to assist the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team. Later that day, UK Coast Guards Rescue 936 was deployed from Caernarfon in Wales to assist as the rescue team rushed to the scene of another emergency.

In a statement on social media on Saturday, a spokesperson for Mourne Mountain Rescue Team said: "At 1103hrs today, the team received a request via Police to assist a walker who’d suffered a debilitating leg injury as a result of a fall on the west of the Slieve Bearnagh Summit Tor.

"Given the precarious location, it was decided to request a SAR Helicopter to assist, with JRCC deploying Irish Coast Guards Rescue 116 from Dublin.

"Team members also responded directly to the casualty and after stabilisation, the casualty was winched to the aircraft and transferred to Meelmore Lodge to the additional team members and responding HART Paramedics."

The spokesperson added: "Alongside support from the Irish Coastguard, in particular Rescue 116, and NIAS HART, the team had 14 members respond and stood down at 1505hrs. We wish the casualty well."

Later that day, the rescue team published a statement on the second casualty.

"At 1934hrs this evening, the team received a request via police to assist a walker who’d taken ill while descending from the Gap of Pollaphuca," the spokesperson said.

"Given the seriousness of the call, the team sent an immediate response alongside requesting a SAR Helicopter to assist, with JRCC deploying UK Coast Guards Rescue 936 from Caernarfon. On arrival, team members assessed, stabilised and packaged the casualty before stretchering them to an accessible area for transfer to the aircraft for a quick evacuation."

The spokesperson continued: "Once on scene, Rescue 936, provided further care before transferring the Casualty direct to Hospital. Alongside assistance from JRCC, Rescue 936 and a NIAS Crew which remained on standby, the team had 14 members respond and stood down at 2238hrs. We wish the casualty well."

The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team was established in 1962 and was the first mountain rescue team in Ireland. The team is made up entirely of volunteers.

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