Michael’s thanks to mountain rescuers

Michael’s thanks to mountain rescuers

13 November 2013

A DOWNPATRICK man rescued after a fall by the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team has paid glowing tributes to the team.

Michael Starkey was walking in the Mournes with a friend when he fell and hurt his ankle, meaning the long way down from the top of Slieve Commedagh was an impossibility. The Mourne Team (MMRT) turned out and carried Michael down to their Land Rover in Donard Park.

Having organised a fundraising pub quiz for the group in Denvir’s last Friday, Michael hopes to encourage others to make a donation to the lifesavers — who do what they do without public funding.

“Literally I was just standing there and went over on my ankle,” said Michael. “I was with my friend Liam O’Hara and it was early afternoon.

“I have weak ankles and I noticed my lace needed tied. I am always meticulous about tying the laces but for some reason at that moment the lace was loose.”

Michael, who walks several times a year in the Mournes, suffered a torn ligament. He made several attempts to walk but it was the angle down hill that caused the difficulty. With it bandaged up he said he could have “walked from Newcastle to Downpatrick” but that he “could not go down a mountain”.

With the decision taken to call for help, Michael said Liam’s map reading skills were a bonus for the MMRT.

“Liam phoned 999 to get the MMRT and talked to them and gave details of where we were and was able to give grid references,” he said.

“It was a couple of hours before the first of the team were in the area. Before we left there were 12 of them.

“They had to put me in a stretcher, there were four on each side, one on front, with the remainder taking a rest.”

Starting the descent in the late afternoon, Michael said he was thankful it was summer rather than the darker autumn afternoons.

“I believe we only had to walk over to the quarry where their Land Rovers were,” he said, stating that the team did everything they could to make him comfortable during the painstaking journey.

“I could not sing their praises enough,” he said. “They do not get any payment for what they do. It is a much required service that they are providing.

“The bottom line is, I was up there, and I wasn’t getting down without them.”

Established in 1962, and still run by a group of dedicated volunteers, the MMRT depends on public donations.

Michael’s pub quiz in Denvir’s, which was attended by some MMRT members and which raised over £1,000, was his way of saying thanks to the group. He hopes others, however, who may well need the group’s services in the future will also be encouraged to donate.

“I would ask people to go on to the MMRT website and make a donation through the ‘Just Giving’ link,” he said.

For details see: http://mournemrt.org/