The Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and neighbouring Glen of Imaal MRT pagers were activated for the third and final time this week at 17.25 on Sunday 15th February. The callout this time was again to Lugnaquilla Mountain for a party of 4 (3 friends and a solo walker who joined them earlier in the day) in need of assistance on Lugnaquilla. One of their group had become seperated from the others approximately 45 minutes beforehand, and with nightfall just minutes away the group were becoming increasingly concerned for his safety.
The remainder of the group said they were on a track near Kellys Lough, and insisted they were confident they knew exactly where they were. After questioning the three men who had called in the incident we determined that the missing man had a mobile phone, but that it was out of coverage at that time.
Mountain Rescue deployed resources to the hillside immediately. After numerous attempts to reach him the mans mobile phone came back into coverage and we were able to speak with him to ascertain his location. Mountain rescuers then guided the man towards his colleagues via mobile phone for a successful reunion on the hillside. Mountain Rescue vehicles were dispatched up the forestry tracks to meet with the group. All 4 were safely transported down off Lugnaquilla via Landrover and the teams were stood down for the evening.
Our thanks to members of the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and Glen of Imaal Red Cross MRT who responded to this incident.
Incident Stats
Number: 11-2009
Tasking Agency: Gardai
Callout Officer: G. Ward
Incident Date: 15-02-2009
Incident Time: 17:25hrs
Incident Type: Search
Incident Site Grid Ref: T 057 907
Mobile Phone Used to Alert Emergency Services: Yes
