Six people were rescued on the mountains of the South East of Ireland today, March 26th, 2010. The first incident took place at around 2.30pm on the Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford, where four people were air-lifted by the Sikorsky S61 Coast Guard helicopter based in Waterford. The four had been out walking when one of the group fell and injured his leg. The helicopter was tasked to evacuate the injured walker, and the mountain rescue team was asked to go to the area and assist if needed. The injured walker was transferred to hospital in Waterford.
Just as Mountain Rescue members were returning home, Gardai in Tipperary town alerted the team to yet another incident, this time on the Galty Mountains in Tipperary. Two walkers had become lost in thick fog and mist in the area around Galtybeg and could not find their way down. The Mountain Rescue team responded with a full team call-out, and set up an incident base at the top of the Black Road on the southern side of the mountains. The team sent rapid response search teams into the area and one of those teams found the walkers in the valley above Glengarra wood at around 18.30. The two walkers were very wet and cold but in otherwise good condition. They were given extra clothing and assisted off the mountains to a team landrover which transported them back to their car.
SEMRA would like to thank all the agencies involved today, SARDA "Search and Rescue Dog Association", Gardai, Coast Guard and its own members. SEMRA is a 999/112 mountain search and rescue team that covers all the mountains of the South East of Ireland.
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A hill walker was rescued on the Galty mountains on St Patrick's Day having fallen and sustained a leg injury. At around 2.30pm, Gardai in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, received a 999/112 call from a group out walking on the mountains, saying one of their group was injured and they requested Mountain Rescue assistance. The Mountain Rescue team (who were in Clonmel preparing to take part in the St Patricks day parade) went on full team call out and sent three vehicles and seventeen team members to the area, known as "Pigeon Rock Glen", where the accident had happened. SEMRA also requested the assistance of the Coast Guard S61 helicopter from Waterford and it was tasked by the Marine Rescue Coordinating Centre in Dublin to go to the area immediately. As Mountain Rescue team members arrived at the accident site, the helicopter also arrived and in deteriorating weather conditions, the man was winched aboard and flown direct to Cork Airport where an ambulance was waiting and took him to Cork University Hospital with a suspected broken leg. The remaining 10 members of the walking group were accompanied off the mountains by SEMRA members.
SEMRA would like to thank the Gardai, MRCC Dublin, the walking group, and the crew of the IRCG S61 for their help today and we wish the injured man a speedy recovery.
On Monday February 15th 2010, SEMRA received a donation of €911 from a group it assisted in the Galty Mountains last October. Following their rescue, Carrigtwohill Foroige wondered how they could thank SEMRA for their hard work in locating them on the night. The old hill-walking saying comes to mind "if at first you get lost, get back up that mountain" and that’s what they did, organising a sponsored walk up Galtymore. So the group joined four SEMRA members on a return visit to the Galtys, after which the money raised was presented to SEMRA Chairperson, Irene Codd, in the Mountain Lodge Youth Hostel in Glengarra Wood. The youth group was given a guided tour of SEMRA’s new command and control vehicle, “Sierra Victor”, which had its first operational outing on the the night in October. SEMRA would like to thank Carrigtwohill Foroige for their hard work and look forward to meeting them again.
Name: Terry Brophy
Lives: Kilkenny, originally from Wicklow, so Hurling jibes don't work.
Occupation: Gentleman Farmer
Interests: Mountains, climbing, biking, kayaking, Land Rovers, technical rescue, very rare steak and the team choir.
In the team since: 1994
Current position in the team: Equipment Officer & Team Clown.
Previous positions held: Training Officer, Deputy Team Leader, Team Leader.
Lowlights: The Air Corps helicopter crash in Tramore.
Highlights: Every time the pager goes off, any excuse to get out! The craic & banter in the team
The South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association is calling on all hill walkers to exercise extreme caution on the mountains of the South East over the next few days. Team Leader, Michael Power, said, "as more snow is expected in the region we are urging hill walkers and climbers to stay off the roads and the mountains. Conditions under foot are extremely dangerous with ice being the main problem, even the best boots won't stop you slipping".
The local Mountain Rescue team here in the South East of Ireland is on standby this Christmas after getting a call from the "North Pole". Santa likes to stop off on the Comeragh or Galtee mountains where he gives Rudolf and all the other reindeer a well earned rest on their long trip. So just in case he needs a push or a pull to get going he has asked the Mountain Rescue team if they will help, so he can deliver all the presents to the girls and boys this Christmas.
SEMRA would like to wish everyone (including SANTA) venturing into the mountains this holiday season a safe and enjoyable trip.
SEMRA's most recent recruits were treated to a guided tour of the Irish Coast Guard HeliBase at Waterford Airport recently, as part of their preparation to become full team members. The visit included an opportunity to get "up close and personal" with the magnificent Sikorsky S61 rescue helicopter. This aircraft, with its distinctive red and white livery, has been the difference between life and death for many a person in distress on land and sea. No less impressive are the inspirational men and women who make up its crew, on the ground and in the air. SEMRA is very grateful to them all for the warm welcome received on the night and for giving our newest members, in their own words, "the highlight of the training so far". As a token of SEMRA's appreciation, a framed team insignia was presented to Dara Fitzpatrick (pilot) on behalf of all our esteemed colleagues based at Waterford.
The picture shows from left to right:
Matt Joy, Deputy Team Leader, SEMRA
Ray Bradfield, Deputy Team Leader, SEMRA
Christy Mahady, Winch Crew, IRCG
Dara Fitzpatrick, Pilot, IRCG
Mark McDermott, Pilot, IRCG
Mike Sandover, Winch Crew, IRCG
Paddy Looney, Deputy Team Leader, SEMRA