17 people taking part in the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage were rescued from Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo today.
A climber with heart problems was airlifted by helicopter at 9.30am this morning and brought to University College Hospital, Galway by helicopter.
Another climber with a head injury was rescued just before 3pm this afternoon, according to the Irish Mirror. Other people hurt had broken limbs and minor injuries including sprains and cuts.
“We had eleven mountain rescue teams here from all over the country,” said Robert Hunt, Fundraising Officer with Mayo Mountain Rescue.
“We also had a team from the PSNI. We’ve been dealing with 17 casualties, mostly from high up on the mountain, particularly from the cone section. There have been two heli-evacuations and four stretcher evacuations.”
Mr Hunt also explained that one climber had to be brought to safety due to intoxication: “one was an intoxicated person who was handed over the Order of Malta on the Murrisk side of the mountain”.
Around 20,000 people are thought to have taken part in the Reek Sunday climb which takes place every year on the last Sunday in July.
Image via destinationwesport.com
