The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team was tasked to two separate incidents today, Tuesday 10^th August.

The first call came at 11:43 from the PSNI SAR co-ordinator following a request from NI Ambulance Service. A male with a history of heart problems had collapsed while climbing Slieve Meelmore (704m). Ambulance paramedics had stabilised the casualty prior to the team’s arrival and assisted by the gentleman’s friends carried him by stretcher down the mountain. A difficult section had to be negotiated involving the crossing of a barbed wire fence, descent into a steep gulley, stream crossing and steep ascent from the gulley before the casualty could be driven down the track in the team’s Land rover. Transfer to the Ambulance took place at the Happy Valley car park.

The pagers went for the second time just before 17:00 with a call from the PSNI in Newry. They had received a call for help from a lady who had possibly fractured her ankle whilst walking in the Yellow Water/ Kilbroney Red Bog area of the Western Mournes. Being a visitor to the area she was not sure exactly where she was, and a PSNI helicopter was tasked to confirm her location. This information was passed to the team who were en-route to the scene, but as conditions were favourable the crew decided to land, collect the casualty and transfer her to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. With the prospect of another stretcher carry now averted, the team returned to base and stood down at 19:30.

But what of tomorrow? Then the weekend?

Dave Goddard
Mourne Co-ordinator