The Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and neighbouring Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team were paged at approximately 4pm to respond to an incident on Bray Head in Wicklow. A male in his mid 20’s had slipped and sustained a lower leg injury, and needed to be evacuated from steep ground for treatment. An Eastern Regional Ambulance Service paramedic was on scene with the casualty and was providing initial treatment for the mans injury.
Due to the casualty’s location and the prevailing wind at the time, the Irish Coastguard S61 helicopter who had responded to a call for assistance stood-down and returned to their base at Dublin Airport as they were unable to safely lift the man from the hillside. Mountain Rescuers are trained and equipped to safely move a loaded stretcher over difficult terrain, and it was this expertise that was required to safely remove the injured man from the scene.
Teams established a safe lowering system using their technical ropework skills and successfully removed the casualty from the accident site. The casualty was then transferred to an awaiting ambulance for transportation to hospital and further treatment.
Incident Stats
Number: 16-2009
Tasking Agency: Health Service
Callout Officer: G. Ward
Incident Date: 30-04-2009
Incident Time: 16:00hrs
Incident Type: Rescue
Incident Site Grid Ref: O 284162
Mobile Phone Used to Alert Emergency Services: Yes
