Six people were rescued on the mountains of the south east of Ireland today [25-MAR-10]. The first incident took place at around 2.30pm on the Comeragh mountains, Co. Waterford where four people were air lifted by the S61 Coast Guard Helicopter from Waterford.The four had been out walking when one of the group fell and injured his leg. The helicopter was tasked to evacuate the injured walker, and the South Eastern mountain rescue team (SEMRA) were asked to go to the area and assist if needed. The injured walker was transferred to hospital in Waterford.

Just as mountain rescue members were returning home, Gardai in Tipperary town alerted the team to yet another incident on the Galtee mountains in Tipperary. Two walkers had gotten lost in thick fog and mist in the area around Galtybeg and could not find their way down. The mountain rescue team sent all its members to the area and set up an incident base at the top of the Black Road on the south side of the mountains. The team sent rapid response search teams into the area and one of these teams found the walkers in the valley above Glengarra wood at around 18.30. The two walkers were very wet and cold but in good health. They were given extra clothing and walked off the mountains to a team landrover that drove them back to their car.

SEMRA would like to thank all the agencies involved today: Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA), Gardai, Coast Guard and its own members.

SEMRA is a 999/112 mountain search and rescue team that covers all the mountains of the south east of Ireland.

Jimmy Barry
SEMRA Public Relations Officer
www.semra.ie
M 087 2975178