'Disorientated' hiker is rescued from Bangor Trail in north Mayo

MAYO Mountain Rescue has rescued a hiker who had become disorientated navigating in unfamiliar terrain in the Wild Nephin/Ballycroy National Park.

A full team callout was initiated yesterday evening after contact was made by An Garda Siochana.

A mobile command centre was set up in Letterkeen and search teams were directed to specific locations along the Bangor Trail to commence searches.

Members of Achill Island Coast Guard and Ballyglass Coastguard assisted in the search in the Bangor area.

Contact was made with the hiker by phone and the coastguard units located the hiker near the Bangor trail on the northern end of the trail shortly after the searches commenced.

A spokesperson for Mayo Mountain Rescue stated: “The hiker made the call early for help so that the search could be initiated in daylight hours which ensured the hiker was found without delay.

“While weather conditions were good, it is a reminder that it is easy to become disorientated navigating in unfamiliar terrain and having a full charged mobile phone and proper equipment, as this hiker did, was key to locating the hiker before dark.

“We thank all the services involved in the search. It was a good example of all the services working well together.”