A call was received from a concerned member of the public regarding 8 German female hikers, aged 18-20, who had gone camping to Lough Belshade in the Bluestacks the day before.  They were not equipped to spend a night out in the severe weather of the night before and when they did not turn up the following day, DMRT were alerted.  DMRT and the Gardaí contacted all surrounding accommodations to see if they had been seen and to try and get a mobile number for the group.  When they could not be located and no mobile number was available, DMRT began to search the area.  The Sligo Coastguard helicopter also provided invaluable assistance from the air, saving many hours of searching in such a large area.  The campers were located and it was established that there was only 6 persons rather than the reported 8 persons. They were all okay and happy to continue hiking. 

Callouts No’s 32, 33 and 34 - Charity walk cover, Glenveagh 28km Wet n Wild Marathon.

278 people took part in the 28km Wet n Wild marathon from Muckish Gap to Lough Altan and onto the Glenveagh Visitors Centre passing over the top of the Poison Glen.  This was a well organised walk with good logistical support.  DMRT were asked to provide full cover on the day and 3 casualties were attended.

Casualty 1

A female walker felt unwell on the Aghla forest track and was unable to continue.  She was attended by the team and assisted back to the road where the HSE took over.

Casualties 2 and 3 

A female walker was treated near the Poison Glen summit with a suspected fracture to her right ankle.  At the same time, a 3rd female was reported 300 meters away suffering from severe exhaustion and weakness.  Both women were taken to the same area and made comfortable.  Casualties 2 and 3 were airlifted by the Sligo Coastguard Helicopter and transported to Letterkenny General Hospital. 

22nd June 2010

Callout No. 31 - Missing person, Lifford area.

Lifford Gardaí contacted DMRT officers regarding a missing person in the general Lifford area.  The Team were put on standby until further information was available.  Sadly, a body was found by Gardaí which was confirmed to be the missing person.  The Team were subsequently stood down.

11th June 2010

Event Cover - Errigal

38 people from the St Johnston area climbed Errigal for charity.  5 DMRT members provided the cover.  Conditions were poor at the top including heavy mist and high winds.  No incidents occurred and the walk passed safely.

5th June 2010

Callout No. 29 - Killybegs

The team were fundraising and providing event cover at a Vintage rally in Killybegs when a charity cycle race past through the town. One of the cyclists was involved in a collision with another cyclist and fell of his bike at speed. The injured party sustained injuries to his right leg and arm.  His helmet also cracked in half as he hit the ground. He sought medical attention and was treated by DMRT.

30th May 2010

Callout No. 28 - Bunbeg Area

At 16.20, a call was received from Glenties Gardaí requesting the team to attend an injured horse which was under the care of an elderly person.  The ISPCA were un contactable and Malin Coastguard were unable to attend, hence the reason DMRT were tasked.  DMRT made contact with Bunbeg Coastguard to help assess the situation.  The horse seemed in good health and content to stay where he was.  The owner agreed to enlist help from locals to help move the horse the following day and the team were subsequently stood down at 20.00.

25th May 2010

Callout No. 27 - Sligo

A call was received from Sligo MRT at 01.00hrs requesting assistance to locate a despondent person who had left a suicide note in a car near Benbulbin, Sligo.  SLMRT had already been searching all day the previous day without success.  The team were tasked to provide assistance from mid-day.  At 07.45hrs, SLMRT issued a stand-down as they had located the person safe and well and brought them to safety.

22nd May 2010

Event Standby Cover on Errigal for Letterkenny Rugby Club

The team provided event cover for a charity walk on Errigal which involved 120 walkers.  No incidents took place and the weather was perfect for a walking event.

11th May 2010

Callout No. 25 - Bluestacks

Two brothers were out hiking and camping in the Bluestacks when one of them fell and broke his lower leg.  He felt he would be able to walk out on his own the following day so they camped for the night.  At 19.00hrs the following day, they realised they would require help and contacted a third brother who contacted the Letterkenny Gardaí.  The Gardaí in alerted DMRT and we were able to make contact with the injured party and establish their location.  The team responded immediately, requested a helicopter and had the injured man located and airlifted to Sligo General Hospital by 21.45hrs.

30th April 2010

Callout No. 24 - Kilmacrennan

While en-route to Callout No. 19, team members in Delta vehicle came across a Road Traffic Accident in Kilmacrennan.  As they were the first on scene, they stayed to administer first aid to a female driver with a suspected neck injury.  Once the ambulance team arrived on scene, the team members proceeded to the next callout in Glenveagh National Park.

30th April 2010

Callout No. 23 - Glenveagh National Park

At 09.20, a call was received from Glenveagh National Park to report a missing walker.  The missing person's car had been left in the visitors carpark the previous morning and he was seen heading well equipped into the hills.  The missing person was located by phone and brought safely back to his car with the assistance of the Downings IRCG boat.  The team were stood down at 15.00.

24th April 2010

Event Standby Cover on Errigal for Letterkenny Rugby Club

The team provided event cover for a charity walk on Errigal, which raised funds for Letterkenny Rugby Club.   Approximately 60 walkers took part and were split into 3 groups, with leaders for each group.  Another group of 45 walkers for a birthday party were also on the mountain at the same time.  No incidents took place and the weather was perfect for such an event.

20th April 2010

Callout No. 21 - Microlight Incident, Slieve Liag

At 14.57, a callout was received from the Gardaí requesting assistance on Sliabh Liag after receiving reports of an air accident involving a light aircraft, possibly a microlight.  When DMRT arrived on scene, the Coast Guard helicopter had finished a sweep of the area and had gone back to refuel; the Coast Guard boat unit from Killybegs were searching the shoreline.  The helicopter did two more sweeps of the area.  In the meantime, the Gardaí contacted all airports and microlight clubs in the Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim areas.  The Coast Guard ground team searched up the Tourist trail to the Eagle’s Nest.  DMRT set up an Incident Control Unit on the Pilgrim’s Path and sent up a hasty team to cover any areas the helicopter would have missed.  When the hasty team returned, all parties stood down as no reports of missing persons or aircrafts had been called in. 

The thinking behind this incident is that there was something up on Sliabh Liag, probably a microlight.  Microlight pilots can and do commonly turn their engines off and on to practice for real engine failure and are able to glide the plane in good conditions for a considerable length of time and also land them.

10th April 2010

Event Standby Cover at 3 separate charity walks: Horn Head, Errigal and Muckish mountains

The team were on standby for 3 charity walks which took place at Horn Head, Errigal and Muckish mountains.  Visibility was perfect and a beautiful day of sunshine was experienced by all walkers.  No incidents took place on any of the walks.

07th April 2010

Callout No. 17 - Creeslough

At 14.00, a callout was received from Milford Gardaí requesting assistance in the search for a fisherman.  His boat had been reported overturned on a local lake and the fisherman could not be located.  The man was found living and well and the team were stood down at 15.00.

30th March 2010

Callout No. 16 - Glenshane Pass

At 23.00, the team were called to assist NWMRT and to provide 4 wheel drive vehicles at a traffic jam caused by severe snow on the Glenshane Pass.  As we had already been given an emergency weather warning for Donegal, we sent one vehicle so as not to leave us short in case of a local callout.  When the team arrived on scene, there was traffic chaos with 320 people stranded on the pass.  We helped evacuate over 100 people alongside NWMRT, Mournes MRT and the PSNI team, who cleared a route to us from the Belfast side of pass.  Everyone was evacuated to a GAA hall in nearby Dungiven.  Among the evacuees were 15 school kids, 3 adults and a bus driver from the St Johnston area of Donegal.  The team were stood down at 05.00.

19th March 2010

Callout No. 15 - Eglish Valley, Bluestack Mountains

At 12.00, DMRT members were called to rescue two sheep trapped on a ledge on a big crag in the Eglish valley (this is the 3rd year in a row sheep have become trapped on the same ledge).  A team member abseiled down and established that one of the sheep was already dead.  In the meantime, the other ewe became startled and jumped off but luckily survived having fallen into a gully which was less steep than the 90 degree face below the ledge.  The team were stood down at 19.00.

07th March 2010

Callout No. 14 - Galwolie, Doochary

At 14.00, Garda from Glenties informed the Team Leader of a deceased person in the Galwolie area and that MR would be needed to extract the body.  At 16.00, the team located the deceased person in the hill and commenced a stretcher carry to the main road.  They arrived at the roadside at approx 18.00 where the local priest said prayers and the funeral director took the body away.

26th February 2010

Callout No. 13 - Ballybofey/Cappry

While the crew in the ICU were travelling to the scene at Meenaroy (Callout No. 12), they came across a four mile standstill queue of traffic trying to get up Cappry hill in heavy snow.  At this point we were informed by Malin head coast guard that Donegal Town Garda were requesting our assistance here to help the gritter get through and to locate a missing driver who had abandoned his car and was walking through Barnesmore gap toward Donegal town alone.  The missing person was quickly located.

By now, the gritter had got up the hill and turned to come back down as the road was completely blocked near the top. The gritter driver informed us there was not enough salt left to give the hill another gritting and it would take approx. 30 minutes to return with more.  Team Charlie were now on scene from the previous callout, so they along with Team Alpha kept the road clear and the traffic from the top side of the hill slowly moving down the hill.   When Bravo arrived on scene, they waited in Ballybofey for the gritter to arrive.  The right-hand lane on the hill was cleared of traffic and Bravo provided an escort for the gritter.  By 22.20hrs the traffic was moving again and the team were stood down to refuel and de-brief.

Callout No. 12 - Meenaroy Hill

At 20.00, a call came from the Glenties Garda station requesting assistance with a weather related situation on Meenaroy hill where there was a reported 40 cars stuck in 6 inches of snow and the condition of some elderly passengers were a concern.  A full team callout was issued and a team was despatched immediately in Bravo vehicle, with Charlie vehicle following shortly behind.  The ICU headed towards Donegal town to RV with Alpha team.  En-route they came across another weather related incident (see Callout No. 13).  Team Bravo assisted the off duty Gardaí at Meenaroy Hill in clearing approximately 120 vehicles that were blocked by severe snow conditions, and assisted the council gritter in ploughing the snow and gritting the road.  The blockage was cleared at 21.30hrs.  Charlie was re-tasked to Ballybofey and Bravo followed as soon as it was established there was no further danger.  SLMRT and the NWMRT were put on standby in case of another incident in the county.

20th February 2010

Callout No. 11 - Laghy Quarry

At 08.30, Garda reported a missing person on the outskirts of Donegal Town.  A full team response was requested. The missing person turned up safe and well shortly after 10.00am and the team was thus stood down.

05th January 2010

Callout No. 10 - The Croaghs to Ballybofey

Due to the continuing big freeze, the team were alerted at 09.00 to an elderly woman from the Meenaleenaghan area of the Glen of Glenties, who was in need of emergency medicine.  This medicine was collected in Ballybofey and promptly taken to the woman in question.

Callout No. 09 - Lismonaghan

A callout was received at 03.47 for a pregnant lady in the Lismonaghan area who had gone into premature labour.  The Ambulance crew were unable to reach her home due to the weather conditions and requested assistance.  A team vehicle was despatched to the scene.  However, neighbours managed to get the lady in question to the hospital.

04th January 2010

Callout No. 08 - Glenveagh

A callout was received at 22.00 informing that five walkers had not returned to the Errigal Hostel and were feared to be missing in Glenveagh.  A full team call-out was issued.  The walkers were eventually located safe and well at a nearby by pub.

Callout No. 07 - St. Johnston

A callout was received at 19.00 to assist four people in the St. Johnston area who were stranded in severe snow conditons and unable to reach their homes.  Charlie vehicle was despatched, recovered the four people and got them back to their homes.

Callout No. 04, 05 & 06 - Dearachan Mór

Due to the on-going severe weather, three separate homes in the Dearachan Mor were in short supply of food and medicine. Contact was made via a team member’s home phone at 10.00, 11.00 and 13.00 for assistance from these three homes.  A list of food and medicine was purchased and delivered to these homes.

02nd January 2010

Callout No. 03 - Dearachan Beg

The team were contacted at 13.00 by a farmer who was isolated by the severe weather.  He was running low on animal feed and was very concerned about the welfare of his animals. Bravo was loaded with 16 bags of 25kg feed and delivered to said farmer.

01st January 2010

Callout No. 02 - Pollan Dam

At 14.00hrs a call came from the Buncrana Garda requesting assistance for an elderly couple walking near the Pollan Dam near to Carndonagh. The team leader contacted the couple via mobile phone and ascertained that they weren’t walking, but had gone for a drive, got lost and due to the severe snow were now stuck at their position.  Three team members responded in Bravo vehicle and were able to pull this very pleasant couple to safety.

Callout No. 01 - The Croaghs

Due to the snow and dangerous road conditions, the team received a callout at 09.00 asking them to transport an elderly woman needing non emergency medical assistance from her home in the mountainous region of the Croaghs to a health centre in Glenties and back to her home again.