Man recovering after heart attack on Croagh Patrick

25,000 estimated to have climbed the Reek


Man recovering after heart attack

Anton McNulty

A MAYO man is recovering in hospital in Galway after he suffered a cardiac arrest while climbing Croagh Patrick during the annual Reek Sunday climb.
An estimated 25,000 pilgrims from around Ireland and abroad descended on Murrisk to take part in the annual pilgrimage to climb Croagh Patrick and follow in the footsteps of St Patrick.
The weather conditions on the holy mountain were described as ‘mixed’ with low lining cloud at the peak but it remained dry for the majority of the day.
While the majority of the pilgrims safely climbed and descended the mountain without incident, there were 22 accidents recorded during the day with one man suffering a heart attack.
The incident occurred when the man in his 50s suffered a cardiac arrest near the church at the top of the mountain at approximately 9.30am. He was airlifted to University College Hospital Galway where he underwent emergency surgeon on Sunday night and had stints inserted.
In the majority of the accidents the injured persons were able to walk off the mountain while five were stretchered from the mountain and two were airlifted to hospital. The final call-out of the day occurred at 9.30pm when a French woman in her fifties suffered a ‘nasty’ fall while climbing with her daughter.
Mayo Mountain Rescue had stepped down for the evening when the call was made and an 18 volunteer team reassembled at the mountain after already spending up to 12 hours on duty. The woman suffered the fall at the cone of the mountain but with the help of her daughter managed to make her way down most of the mountain before meeting with the rescue team.
The lady suffered deep cuts to her face and hands as well as a lower leg injury and she was evacuated to a waiting ambulance which brought her to Mayo General Hospital.
There were 220 volunteers on duty during the day from a number of organisations including Mayo Mountain Rescue, the Gardaí, Order of Malta, Civil Defence and even the PSNI.
Robert Hunt, the PRO of Mayo Mountain Rescue told The Mayo News that the number of accidents recorded this year was higher than 2013.
“It was a very busy day for us with the majority of falls taking place on the cone section, which is the most dangerous part. This year was average for us for a Reek Sunday with 21 call outs during the day and one later in the evening. Some years the number would be as high as 30 or 40 but its has been a good while since it was that high and last year the figure was at 13. All in all it was a good day for the Mountain Rescue. Apart from the cardiac arrest, the majority of injuries were minor,” he said.
The Mayo Mountain Rescue team did not have much time off following Reek Sunday and were called back into action yesterday afternoon when a young boy fell on Croagh Patrick. The ten-year-old boy fell at the cone section of the mountain at approximately 12.30pm and was airlifted to Mayo General Hospital.