A walker was airlifted from the Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford this morning.
The woman was out early on the Coumshingaun Loup and fell suffering a serious leg injury.
South Eastern Mountain Rescue was altered by Gardai at 10.15 am and sent out a full team. Rescue 117, the Waterford based Coast Guard helicopter, was also launched.
The helicopter was unable to winch the casualty from the location so they brought two members of the mountain rescue to the scene. A third member of the team made his way to the site and together with the helicopter paramedic they were able to stretcher the woman to a safer location 100 metres away.
The woman was winched safely onboard the helicopter at 12.40 pm and was transferred to University Hospital Waterford.
All SEMRA team members were off the mountain by 1.50 pm.
It was the associations 501st callout since they were formed in 1977. Their 500th call came yesterday to help an injured hiker in the Galtee Mountains.
SEMRA was formed in 1977, following a light air craft crash in the Galtees, members of the local hill walking clubs got together to make it a formal arrangement.
They now have four team vehicles (three 4WD and 1 mobile base), a dedicated base building which is being extended to include a training room, a paging system for call outs and top of the range rescue equipment. However, the purpose and people of mountain rescue remain the same, hill walkers helping hill walkers.
They say that the service provided in responding to more than 500 call-outs over the last 43 years would not be possible without the support of their families who let them go at all hours of the day and night.
SEMRA cover the mountains of the South East including the Blackstairs, Brandon Hill, Ballyhoura Mountains, Knockmealdowns, Comeragh Mountains, Slievenamon and the Galtee Mountains.
The team has 50 members who live in all areas of the south-east. This enables them to provide a prompt response to all of the mountains in their area of operation.
They are currently recruiting new members. New members are normally recruited every two years. On this occasion, it has been a little longer as they have had a relatively low turnover from their members who are very committed. If you are an experienced hill walker and would like to hear more about joining South Eastern Mountain Rescue please send an e-mail to [email protected]
Anyone in need of assistance on the mountain should not hesitate to contact SEMRA by dialling 999 or 112 and ask for Mountain Rescue.
Pictures thanks to South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association
