Rescue teams assist eight pilgrims on Reek Sunday

EIGHT pilgrims were assisted by rescue services on Croagh Patrick during the Reek Sunday pilgrimage yesterday.

Mayo Mountain Rescue were supported by various other rescue and support services to respond to injured or ill climbers throughout the day.

In an update on their social media, they reported eight calls for help, mainly from people suffering from fatigue and exhaustion.

It was a busy weekend for Mayo Mountain Rescue, whose first call-out on Friday afternoon was to assist a female walker close to the summit on Croagh Patrick. She had sustained a head injury and was feeling unwell, with R118 called to airlift her off the mountain.

Minutes after standing down from that call-out, the team were tasked to assist two climbers who sought help when they became lost on Mweelrea having become disoriented in dense fog and unsure as to where to descend.

They were found by the team and after a medical assessment and rewarming and refueling, they walked back down with the rescue team.

The volunteer team were also tasked to an emergency in Doogort in Achill when a female walker sustained an ankle injury near Slievemore on Sunday. Due to the ongoing operation being coordinated by MMRT at Croagh Patrick, the team requested assistance from Achill Island Coast Guard to attend the incident.

Mayo Mountain Rescue has extended thanks to all the volunteers and agencies involved in the operations on Croagh Patrick.

They shared some closing snaps from the Reek as the team packed up the medical tent and equipment well after 7 p.m. Monday evening.

Follow Mayo Mountain Rescue on Facebook for more on this volunteer team's work.