The rescue helicopter takes the injured man fro Errigal. Pic by Patrick McClafferty for Donegal Daily.
This is the dramatic moment a rescue helicopter lifted a young trainee teacher off Errigal after he tumbled 50 metres down the side of the mountain.
The student from St Patrick’s Teacher Training College in Dublin fell and tumbled down a steep shale slope last evening.
The 19 year old from Co Monaghan was with another trainee teacher on a week-long break to improve their language skills at a local Irish College.
The young men began climbing the 2,464 ft mountain at 5pm but disaster struck at 7pm when one of the men took a serious fall.
Patrick McClafferty caught this stunning picture of the rescue.
The injured man tumbled and as well as receiving severe cuts and bruises to his legs and body, he also suffered a dislocated shoulder.
The teenager’s companion called the emergency services who responded immediately.
The emergency rescue helicopter was dispatched from its base in Sligo.
However upon arrival the casualty could not be airlifted from the dangerous area where the young man had fallen.
Members of the Donegal Mountain Rescue team were then called into action and had to move the man to a safer area where he could be extracted from the mountain.
Joseph Brennan of the Donegal Mountain Rescue said it was a very tricky rescue.
“Because of the area where the young man had fallen is covered in scree, he could not be winched out of there.
“There was a fear that the blades of the helicopter may have struck the rocks and we just couldn’t take that chance.
“It was just one of those very awkward operations. While it was a lovely evening, it was blowing a gale at the summit of the mountain.
“We eventually got to him and brought him to another location where he was then airlifted to safety,” he revealed.
The man is currently recovering at Sligo General Hospital where he was transferred from Letterkenny General Hospital while his companion was checked but did not receive any injuries.
Mr Brennan said the lads did nothing wrong but the incident showed how quickly a situation can change in the “blink of an eye.”
“The lads left to climb the mountain at 5pm which isn’t too late and it was a lovely evening.
“But unfortunately one of them took a tumble and it just shows how everything can change in the blink of an eye.
“He tumbled up to 50 metres but thankfully he managed to protect his head before he came to a stop.
“His friend then managed to scramble to him and comforted him until the emergency services arrived.
“What should have been a nice climb up and down in a few hours ended up with one of them being taken from the mountain at 11pm and then being hospitalised.
“However the good news is that the lads will recover and all the rescue services came together for what was a prolonged but successful rescue,” he said.
He also advised people to prepare when climbing a mountain by wearing the proper clothing, footwear and to bring a bar of chocolate and always a mobile phone.
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