Rescuers in battle

Rescuers in battle

27 March 2013 - by BY JOANNE FLEMING

THE Mourne Mountain Rescue Team played a key role over the weekend helping people suffering the effects of the heavy snow which blanketed many areas.

With farmers, families, motorists and engineers struggling in the deep snow, the rescue team was on duty for a large part of Saturday and Sunday providing much-needed help.

The volunteers who provide the mountain rescue service were contacted by the PSNI on Friday and placed on standby.

Mr. Ian McCracken said the team’s first call was to deliver food to a Northern Ireland Water official based at the Fofanny water treatment plant at Slievenaman near Bryansford which bore the brunt of the heavy snowstorm.

“We were told the man was stuck in the underground facility since Friday and had no food left. We were informed he was prepared to try and walk out but he stayed once we had reached him on foot and provided him with some provisions,” Ian explained.

“The Roads Service had deployed a snow blower to the Slievenaman area but such was the severity of the snow and the subsequent drifting, which was over six feet high in places, that it was only able to cover around half-a-mile in a few hours.”

Mr. McCracken said on their way to the water treatment plant the rescue team came across a man who was trying to reach the family of a young baby at the Hilltown Road outside Bryansford.

“The family had been without power for a few days and were attempting to get out to make their way to stay with friends in Newcastle. Their house was snowbound so we helped them up to the car which was waiting for them,” he explained.

Mr. McCracken revealed the mountain rescue team helped a number of drivers struggling in the treacherous conditions and that some team members were asked to use a Land Rover to help deliver medication to the Slievecroob area.

“The team set off but was informed en route that the medication had in fact been delivered. On Sunday night we got a call to attend a man who was suffering from back and leg pains, also in the Slievecroob area, but as the team arrived a helicopter was in the process of airlifting the man to hospital,” he said.

Mr. McCracken said the team remained on standby on Monday to provide help and assistance wherever it was needed.

Newcastle councillor Patrick Clarke has praised the work of the mountain rescue team who helped reach a number of stranded people last weekend.

“Team members are out in all sorts of weather and they do a tremendous job. They have to brave atrocious conditions at times and I know many people are very grateful for the work they do,” he said.

“The team was faced with very trying conditions last weekend and we are very fortunate to have such highly trained professionals available to help at a moment’s notice.”