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TWO MALE CLIMBERS have been rescued after getting into difficulty while climbing a snow gully at Binevengh Mountain near Limavady, Derry today.
After receiving the call at about 3pm, PSNI search and rescue were transported from Belfast City Airport by an Irish Army Air Corps Helicopter which was in the province helping with animal food relief to farmers because of the recent poor weather conditions.
The helicopter dropped the two members of the PSNI team at the top of the gully which was heavy with snow and ice.
One of the members of the rescue team abseiled down to the two climbers who were in a very precarious position on the mountain. The two men were secured and they were winched to safety in the helicopter where they were given immediate care.
A second team of three PSNI Search and Rescue members, who were training, were picked up at Newcastle and also transported to the scene by an Irish Coastguard helicopter to provide additional resources.
In addition, the North West Mountain Rescue were also tasked and they provided Landrover support to the mountain and the two climbers were then transferred over to them, uninjured, to be returned to their car, for their return journey home.
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Seriously I don’t know the ins and outs of this particular situation, and don’t live in Northern Ireland but even I know it’s been really bad with snowdrifts in the area…what were theses guys thinking of, they wasted time for other services in the area which were needed for people/animals caught up in the situation through no fault of their own. Glad that they are ok, but common sense should prevail. Maybe I’m wrong.
No your not wrong Joan, going up a mountain in weather like that is nothing short of being mental, totally irresponsible, showing no respect for the lives of the rescuers or there families…
They should not only be made pay for the rescue services, North and South, but should be shown the contempt they richly deserve…..
Everyone is happy that those idiots are ok, but to think of all those people and animals stranded up there, beggars belief…
Great to see the services of the North and South working hand-in-hand with each other…..Well done to them all….
No you are not wrong Joan you are spot on, totally selfish behaviour imo
So I suppose anyone that climbs Everest or K2 is an idiot by your way of thinking have you never heard of adventurers these lads were probably experienced climbers that sometimes get into difficulty if we had no adventurers in this world we would be a lot worse off I think
They are idiots when these services are stretched to the limit trying to help people and animals who have been caught up in dangerous conditions through no fault of their own, I’m no expert on mountain climbing but I’m sure Everest and k2 have teams of rescuers solely dedicated to climbers?
These people are mad. Endangering their own lives and the lives of others.
Let them pay for the services and see if it happens again. Theres bad luck and pure stupidity. This is definitely a case of the latter.
As soon as as road watch say somewhere is impassible like the Sally gap. Idiots in their jeeps regard it as a challenge head up there. Get stuck and have to be rescued. Should be left up there for a few hours first and then be billed for expense.
Personally I think it’s great to see the Irish Army Helicopters and the Irish Coastguard Helicopter up north giving a hand with aid and rescues. It’s shows how far we’ve come from the days of the troubles etc. I’d hope to think that the British Army would return the favour if it was needed in the republic.
Joan I echo your sentiments..unfortunately its all too prevalent in extreme weather. I think its important though that this rescue was aided by the Irish Defence Forces and the Irish Coastgaurd. Also begs the question…do AGS have personnel trained in search and rescue as do the PSNI (article gives impression that yhese police officers arw specialists in mountain rescue..am open to correction on this) great work by all service personnel. Hope govt watching
We have our own mountain rescue units while volunteers are professional and excellent. The only problem they might have is funding. Why muddy the water when the mountain rescue we already have are second to none?
Absolutely agree Heathen having seen them in action. It was just that part of article that piqued my interest. MountainRescue volunteers are true heroes imo
They should just be handed the bill for the operation. They night then think twice next time.
Well maybe if you’re an ice climber you might want to be up the mountains at the moment, these conditions are a long way from extreme, laughable when forecasts describe -5 C as bitterly cold, I’d saw a Siberian would call that summer.
have your say