Woman stretchered off Reek

Anton McNulty

A FEMALE in her mid-fifties was stretchered off Croagh Patrick on Friday evening after breaking two bones in her ankle.
The woman was rescued by Mayo Mountain Rescue on Friday evening after she fell over at the ridge section of Croagh Patrick and injured her leg. The incident occurred at approximately 4.30pm and it is understood the lady fell over on a stone.
A team from Mayo Mountain Rescue located the woman and after stabilising the casualty, removed her from the mountain by stretcher to an awaiting ambulance, which brought her to Mayo General Hospital. It is understood the casualty sustained a broken ankle in two places and is currently recovering from her ordeal.
This was the twenty-seventh rescue operation of the year for Mayo Mountain Rescue which a spokesperson said was down on this time last year. The spokesperson said the bad weather in  recent weeks which has prevented people from climbing the Reek and other mountains, which may be a reason for the lower amount of callouts.

Coastguard
Meanwhile, the Achill Island Coastguard were called to a similar incident last Wednesday evening when a woman fell on rocks and suffered a suspected broken limb in Dooagh. Following the callout the team quickly located the casualty and with the assistance of local GP, Dr Edward King, and a nurse, they stabilised her.
The woman was carried cross-country by the team and other volunteers to a HSE ambulance which transferred the casualty to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.
The work of the Achill Coast Guard unit was praised by David Hall, CEO of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, who was a friend of the casualty.