Mystery after ‘ghost’ appears in mountain climber’s selfie photo

Mystery after ‘ghost’ appears in mountain climber’s selfie photo

1 June 2016

TALES of unexplained happenings, legends of ghostly visitations and reports of weird apparitions in Newcastle have been handed down from generation to generation.

Folklore recalls the sightings of the so-called Blue Lady at Tollymore Forest Park, a wistful spectre who is believed to have formerly resided in the seat of the Roden family at Tollymore House and wanders restlessly through the park.

There are also tales of a banshee seen walking silently among the tied up boats and lobster pots at Newcastle harbour and the sighting of a grieving woman dressed all in black — standing on Bogey Hill — sobbing and looking out to sea hoping for the return of her lost husband, son or father believed to have perished in the 1843 fishing disaster.

Now another tale has emerged of a ghostly figure in the heart of the Mournes — an apparition caught on Terry Ledgewood’s mobile phone as he took a selfie on his way down from the summit of Slieve Donard.

A native of Maghera in Co Derry, he was in the Mournes several months ago to help raise funds for the Riding for the Disabled charity when the mysterious figure photo bombed his selfie.

Since his fundraising trek, Terry has been scratching his head trying to make sense of the haunting figure he captured standing over his right shoulder. He hopes that by going public with his story and the fascinating image he captured, people will be able to shed some light on it.

Terry was on his way back down from the summit when he stopped to take the selfie which he sent to his wife and sister. A short time later, he received a text message asking who the mysterious person was standing behind him.

When Terry examined the image, he saw the inexplicable figure and when he checked with his friend who was with him as they made their descent, he was told there was no one behind him when he captured the image.

“The photo shows someone wearing what looks like a dark coloured waterproof coat with their hands stuffed in their pockets. They also had the hood of their coat over their head as it was raining,” he explained. “When I took the selfie I did not recall seeing whoever this was standing over my right shoulder. It is very odd.”

Terry said he was about one third of the way down from the top of Slieve Donard heading for an area known locally as The Saddle when he stopped to take the photo alongside his friend, John.

“I emailed the photo to my wife’s sister and got a text back from her to ask who was behind me. My friends who were with me are adamant there was no one behind John and I when I took the photo and the image has become a talking point,” he explained.

Terry said the weather was very poor and believes he may have accidentally captured a ghost on his camera.

“There can be no other explanation. There was no one behind me when I took the photo yet this mysterious figure appeared out of nowhere and is clearly visible in the image. I have been wracking my brains since I took the picture and can come up with no other rational or sensible explanation other than it could be a ghost.

“There were not too many other people in the mountains. Our party met a few couples who braved the elements but that was about it. I am intrigued who the person is.”

When Terry descended the mountain and arrived in Donard Park he went to the local hostel where he was staying and wasted no time showing people the mysterious figure who had photo bombed his selfie high in the Mournes.

“Some people told me the story about the so-called Blue Lady but other than that none of the locals I spoke to could come up with a sensible explanation. The whole thing remains a mystery.

“I also showed the image to some people in local restaurants and cafes in Newcastle and they were also mystified as to who the person was. I have no logical explanation and believe I may have captured a ghost.”

Terry said he hopes that someone will be able to provide what he described as a “rational explanation” for the image he captured which he explained was not doctored in any way. He said as soon as he took the photo he forwarded to his wife and sister.

He added: “It is all very strange. There was no one behind me on the mountain when I took the photo yet this person mysteriously appears behind me. I am intrigued.”