Three rescues in one day for busy mountain rescues teams

AFTER a relatively quiet period, Wicklow’s two mountain rescue teams were called out three times on Saturday last.

A 8.10 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, The Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team and Dublin Wicklow Mountain Mountain Rescue Team were called to Ballinastoe Woods where a young male mountain biker had fallen from his bike and collided with a boulder.

The young man was assessed by mountain rescue medics and stretchered to a waiting ambulance, which brought him to hospital.

At 3.45 p.m., the teams were called to the Art’s Lough area of Glenmalure where a woman who was descending steep ground with her friends was injured as she took a considerable fall.

Given the difficult nature of the terrain and the woman’s injuries, the mountain rescue teams requested the assistance of the Coast Guard helicopter, which arrived on scene very quickly. The casualty was winched on board and flown to hospital.

Yet again the two teams were called into action that night when, at 9.30 p.m., they were asked by the National Ambulance Service to assist an ambulance at Knocksink Wood Nature Reserve in the Enniskerry area. A man had fallen from a steep bank and had sustained injuries. Mountain resuce personnel stretchered the injured man from the steep ground to a nearby track, where the ambulance was awaiting his arrival.

Three rescues and almost 14 hours after the first call-out, the teams were stood down at 10.05 p.m.

Both teams have extended their thanks to all those who assisted in these successful rescues, particularly the National Ambulance Service and the Coast Guard.