Praise after friends rescued in Mournes

Praise after friends rescued in Mournes

26 July 2017

A SAINTFIELD man has paid tribute to the professionalism of the emergency services after he and his friend plunged down the side of a mountain in a terrifying incident while walking in the Mournes last weekend.

Queen’s University student Michael McNulty and Matthew Grimes, also from Saintfield, were descending Slieve Bearnagh with two other friends last Saturday afternoon when the duo slipped on rocky terrain.

The men, who are both 21, were ascending an area known as Bearnagh slabs which is popular with mountain climbers before they fell over 20 metres. The extent of the injuries were so severe they were subsequently airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Describing what happened as a “freak accident,” Michael revealed the quartet had changed their initial route home as falling mist obscured safe passage to the bottom of the mountain.

“We decided to make our way down via Slieve Bearnagh as we thought we would be safer. The route we chose was quite rocky and while we could see where we were going, we had no idea about was about to happen,” he continued.

Matthew — who was first to fall — sustained multiple injuries and when Michael went to his assistance, he also lost his footing and fell, coming to rest close to his friend.

Recovering at his home after being discharged from hospital on Sunday afternoon, the Saintfield man explained as the four friends started their descent, the terrain was rocky and very steep.

“Matthew and I were at the front when he fell. He just started tumbling and tumbling hitting his head a number of times on the way down. It was horrific to watch,” he explained. “I ran down after him but also tripped and ended up falling for about 20 metres myself, ending up lying beside him. Matthew was conscious, but covered in blood and we used a T-shirt to try and stop bleeding from his head wounds.

“I thought I was fine at this point and was able to stand up and go towards Matthew. One of the other guys rang 999 and the operator stayed on the phone with him until members of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team arrived.”

As the team members assisted Matthew, Michael made his way back up the side of the mountain to one of his other friends and admitted he was “running on adrenalin at this stage.”

He continued: “Suddenly, I found that I could not move and the pain kicked in. My hip was swollen and lower leg was cut. It seemed that only when I started to take stock of things that I felt pain. My chest was tight and sore.

“A helicopter (from the UK Coastguard) then arrived from Wales to take Matthew to hospital and when other rescue team members came over to me I found that I could not move at all. My heart rate started to decrease and I started to vomit. Concerned for me, the rescue team called for a second helicopter (from the Irish Coastguard in Dublin) to take me to hospital.”

Michael said trauma teams at the Belfast hospital were waiting on both him and Matthew when they arrived and in addition to treating their injuries, carried out a series of tests, which included MRI and CT scans.

“The help we received from the emergency services was simply unbelievable. From the mountain rescue team, to the helicopter and ambulance crews and staff at the Royal, we were in safe hands and will never be able to thank them enough for their help.,” he continued. “One of the mountain rescue team members was shopping in Belfast and just over an hour after the alarm was raised, he was helping us. Incredible.

“We were all amazed at how quickly the emergency response swung into action. The work of the various crews was so well co-ordinated and we will never be able to thank them enough for what they did and are so grateful.”

Michael added: “The four of us have been in the mountains several times and there have never been any problems before. The weather prompted us to change our route down but it did not contribute to what happened. We are all safe and I am glad that Matthew has also now been released from hospital and is at home in Saintfield. All our thanks and that of our families goes to the emergency services. They were brilliant.”