Walkers airlifted to safety as two rescues take place in Galtees and Comeraghs

The two separate calls, on different mountain ranges, were just ten minutes apart, said a SEMRA spokesperson on Saturday, January 10.

The first call out was received at 3.37pm related to a walker on the Galtees who had become disorientated in the mist and poor visibility.

Phone find confirmed the walker’s location and team members began to head for the Black Road when call number two came in at 3.47pm for three walkers lost on the Comeraghs.

The team had to divide resources between the two incidents. Team Land Rover and seven team members closest to the Galtees headed for the Black Road.

“Team members made their way up the walker’s location, thankfully uninjured but wet and cold,” said SEMRA. “The walker was escorted out to a waiting Land Rover and then driven back to their own car.”

The stand down for the Galtees was issued at 6.09pm, with everyone safely off the hill.

Meanwhile in Coumshingaun, three walkers doing the loop walk overshot the path to descend and ended up over Foilanprisoon.

“Not knowing where they were, they called for help, which was a good call as they were heading for steep ground,” said SEMRA.

Rescue helicopter 117 also responded and sighted the three walkers. SEMRA members maintained contact with R117 and the three walkers were able to confirm it was the correct group.

R117 brought the three walkers down to a field near Kilclooney bridge where they were collected by An Garda Síochána and brought back to their car.

The order to stand down for the Comeragh call out was issued at 4.34pm.

“It would have been a long trek up to the three walkers and a cold wait for them up there so to have them lifted off by R117 was a relief to all,” commented SEMRA. “Please remember that while the snow looks pretty, it’s also very cold and very slippery the higher up the mountain you go.

“Please bring extra layers, gloves and hats and wear hiking boots so that if you do get lost or have a fall, you can at least keep yourself warm until we get there.”

SEMRA is a voluntary, non-profit organisation affiliated to the Irish Mountain Rescue Association, and is responsible for search and rescue in the mountains of south eastern Ireland.