Mountain rescuers tend to five call-outs in two days

The South East Mountain Rescue Association had a very busy time of it in recent days being tasked to five call-outs within 48 hours.

In a post on the organisation’s social media pages a spokesperson said call-out numbers 49 and 50, occurred on Sunday and remarked that 2024 was the association's busiest year since Covid.

"Almost one a week, except it was nothing for weeks and then five over two days, or three in the same day," said the spokesperson.

The first call on Sunday was for a group of walkers who were lost and unsure how to make their way back to their car. The group members were wet and cold. The rescuers received the call at 1.04pm and a full team call-out was issued at 1.22pm. RV Cush Boreen. However, the spokesperson said two other walkers on the hill came across them and guided them down off Galtee Beag to the coll and put them into a storm shelter until SEMRA members arrived at their location. 

"We use blizzard smocks for cold walkers," said the spokesperson, adding: "They are light but very warm and tough, and are excellent for warming people up."

The walkers were guided down off the hill to a waiting team Land Rover and driven back to their car andeveryone was safely off the hill at 3.15pm. "Our thanks once more to the landowners for allowing us access through their farm," said the spokesperson. The second call from An Garda Síochána came in at 6.16pm, for a walker lost in the Nire Valley. The walker became disoriented in the dark and was unsure of the route back to the car. A full team call-out was issued at 6.26pm and the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland) also responded. Search Dog, 'Dayzee', was deployed with her handler and the first SEMRA search party. The walker was located quickly as the person was closer to the car park than realised. The stand down was issued at 7.29pm and all team members arrived safely down from the hill. 

"A busy weekend, at the end of a busy year for SEMRA," said the spokesperson. 

"Thank you to all of our supporters, Long Way Round participants, land owners, hill walkers who help out, National Ambulance Service, An Garda Siochana, Irish Coast Guard, Civil Defence teams, businesses and scouts who help us out in so many ways," added the spokesperson.
"Without your support we could not provide a 24/7/365, 100 per cent voluntary emergency service."