Walkers rescued from 'treacherous' conditions on Errigal Mountain in Donegal

Two walkers were rescued from ‘treacherous’ conditions on Errigal Mountain in county Donegal on New Year’s Day.

One of the walkers sustained a leg injury and had to be taken off the mountain on a stretcher following a multi-agency rescue mission.

Both people suffered mild hypothermia, but were taken to safety from what a Donegal Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson described as ‘some of the worst conditions the team has experienced in a long time’.

DMRT was tasked at 2.57pm on New Year’s Day to assist a person who had got into difficulty while descending the mountain.

With daylight fading fast and the temperature dropping, they could not get down the mountain without the assistance of the mountain rescue crew.

“Members of the team located the casualty, stabilised the leg and gave the other walker, who was with the casualty, extra layers including a cas wrap for warmth,” DMRT said.

“The casualty was transferred on to a stretcher as other members of the team arrived with the stretcher wheel.”

As the 118 Rescue helicopter was unavailable, the DMRT set to work to get the two people to safety.

A spokesperson said: “Through treacherous wind and sleet conditions, the uninjured walker was safely walked off the hill, while the rest of the team used ropes to navigate the stretcher to where the wheel was positioned and, being joined by more members of the team and members of the Coast Guard, successfully transported the casualty off the hill to the awaiting ambulance.”

A total of 25 people were  tasked to the mission to secure the safety of the walkers off the hill, both of whom suffered mild hypothermia.

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team has paid tribute to colleagues from An Garda Siochana, the Ambulance Service, the Irish Coast Guard and Malin Head Coast Guard for what they said was ‘incredible work’.