THIS was the scene on Carrauntoohil yesterday as Kerry Mountain Rescue Team volunteers and a crew from the Rescue 115 Coastguard helicopter were summoned to rush to the assistance of a woman injured in a fall.
The alarm was raised at 1.45pm when rescue services were notified that an English woman, aged in in her 40s, had slipped and fallen whilst descending Central Gully with her climbing partner.
With the assistance of the helicopter, equipment and rescue personnel were airlifted onto the mountain from Ard na Locha and they abseiled from near the summit to reach the casualty.
The woman treated at the scene of the incident for head and suspected spinal injuries, before the crew had to carry her by stretcher along 2,400ft of vertical descent over terrain described as “extremely difficult”.
The injured woman was then transported in the team vehicle from Ard na Locha to Kissane’s Cottage where she was transferred to a waiting ambulance and brought to University Hospital Kerry for further treatment.
The call-out, which concluded at approximately 10 o’clock last night, involved 30 members of the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.
Weather conditions on the mountain were good but there were some hard compacted snow sections in north facing gullies, while the ground on high ridges and around summit tops is still frozen.
Walkers and climbers in the area are urged to take care and ensure that they are experienced in winter climbing and are properly equipped before planning a visit to the Reeks at this time.
Photographs courtesy of the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team. Click on individual images for information
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