Wicklow's Mountain Rescue Teams responded this afternoon [ 21-MAR-10 ] to a rather unusual request for assistance from the Spink Mountain in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.

Rescuers had been taking part in a technical rescue training exercise in Dalkey Quarry in South Dublin when the call for help came through from a young family after their dog fell a considerable distance on steep ground, leaving them gravely concerned for the animals welfare.

The owners were very keen to do whatever they could to help their pet, but agreed to wait for the Mountain Rescue team to arrive on scene, lest they themselves ended up in trouble.

The dog, a jack russell named Sally, had slipped over the edge of the cliff-top high above the upper lake in Glendalough and came to rest approximately 100 meters down from the top on very difficult terrain.

A technical rope rescue system was quickly put in place to allow some of the teams rope rescue specialists abseil (descend) down to Sally's location. They were then able to safely climb back up to the top with the animal where she was reunited with a very thankful owner. Incredibly, Sally was not badly injured in the fall.

Sally is re-united with her owner by Chris England (right), Deputy Team Leader with D&WMRT
Photo courtesy of D&WMRT

We'd like to thank the agencies inviolved in this operation:
Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team
Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team
An Garda Siochana

Paul Gilbert (PRO)
Dublin & Wicklow MRT
087 9125835

Hugh McLindon (PR)
Glen of Imaal MRT
086 8520962

Mountain Rescue is a registered charity:
D&WMRT - Charity No. : CHY 10148
GOIMRT - Charity No. : CHY 3950
Irish Mountain Rescue Association - Charity No.: CHY 10412