north west mountain rescue team ANNUAL REPORT 2014 REPORT ANNUAL

Minimum Donation nwmrt £2.00 north west mountain rescue team Contents

4-5 Foreword by Graeme Stanbridge, Team Leader

6-7 Callout Log - Mountain, Cave, Cliff and Sea Cliff Rescue Incidents 2014

8-9 Community Events

Acknowledgements 11 Belfast Hills Event

Executive Editor Graeme Stanbridge 12-13 Rescuer Revealed Joe Dowdall by Catherine Tilbury, nwmrt member Editorial Team Louis Edmondson Michael McConville 15-17 The Holy Mountain - Croagh Patrick Catherine Scott by Catherine Scott nwmrt member and Catherine Tilbury Michael McConville nwmrt Paramedic Proof Reading Gillian Crawford 18-19 Section Photographs Design Rachel Beckley 20 nwmrt Members Photography Thanks to all the team members who have 21 Where we fit into Mountain Rescue Ireland provided photographs for this publication and 23-25 Training Hard to Work Easy special thanks to Trevor Quinn for taking group by Allen Thurston, Training Officer shots and specialist photographs. 26-27 Preparing for the Sky - training for air rescue by Rachel Beckley, nwmrt support member

28-29 Slemish Challenge 2014 by Philip Neeson, East Section Leader

nwmrt would like to thank all our supporters, funders 30-31 Vehicles and sponsors, especially by Noel McGillian, nwmrt member Sports Council NI 33 Mountain Support Group

34-35 Competition

36 Contact and Support

 Foreword elcome to our 2014 ‘On Call’ Annual Report. What a year it’s been! Over 16,000 hours of incidents, training and administration recorded. I can’t speak highly enough of the Wselfless commitment of our members; helping those in need, often in dangerous environments and with little recognition. One such member, Joe Dowdall is highlighted in our ‘Rescuer Revealed’ feature: his understated dedication to others defines what we are about. There was an average number of callouts in 2014 but some were a little more unusual, with casualties literally falling at our feet! (The full list of all 2014 callouts is on pages 6-8.) More concerning, was the increased number of searches for vulnerable missing persons. The importance of searches of this type - part of our extended role of operating in hostile and remote environments - is often overlooked. This year nwmrt training was reviewed and a new manual, setting out the requirements for core and technical skills, was produced. Continual review of training is essential to ensure casualties receive best care and service, as well as ensuring our own safety. We are grateful for the expertise of our training officer Allen Thurston, whose feature on pages 25-27, will give you an idea of the team training activities throughout the year. Behind the scenes there have been changes too. At the start of the year we registered with the NI Charities Commission resulting in changes to administrative procedures. The Strategic Framework Review for Search and Rescue (SAR) in Northern Ireland is due to be implemented this year. A significant change is the transfer of responsibility for voluntary SAR organisations to the Department of Justice. In the past, the Government has provided approximately 50% of our funding, with voluntary donations and fund raising activities by team members providing the rest. This Strategic Review has brought particular funding concerns and we expect a sharp reduction next year and in subsequent years. To ensure our operational capability is maintained, we have begun more entrepreneurial fund raising; we don’t want to be in a position where we can’t afford essential equipment or fuel for our vehicles. In 2015 we are planning a number of major fund raising events so why not join in? We have numerous enquiries about joining the team yet many do not realise how much commitment is required to be an active member. This year, we are forming the Mountain Rescue Support Group (MRSG) for those who can not commit fully to operational membership, but have something to offer and a desire to support the team by engaging in a variety of roles. There is more information on the MRSG on page 32 or the website www.nwmrt.org. Throughout the year, in my new role as Team Leader, I have relied upon the guidance, advice and knowledge of our senior members, whilst also encouraging the views and ideas of newer members who bring enthusiasm and vigour. I thank them all for their contributions and support throughout the year. However, I would especially like to thank our family and friends who have also made an unintentional commitment to the team by allowing us to do what we do, often in the middle of the night and at weekends. I hope you find this report both entertaining and informative, and that you will take an active role in supporting the team in some small way. The North West Mountain Rescue Team wishes you a very happy and safe 2015! Graeme Stanbridge, Team Leader Graeme Stanbridge, Team Leader   8 June 26/27 July 13 September 25 November 0707: Assistance to Focus 0900-1800: Support for 0845: Search for missing 0900: Search for Ireland participant in Annual Pilgrimage to male in Tandragee area vulnerable missing person Callout Log Mournes with knee injury Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo. Teams: NWMRT in Belfast Teams: NWMRT Assisted five casualties. 2105: Stood down, person Teams: NWMRT, PSNI 0745: Stood down, Teams: All 12 MR Teams found deceased and 1700: Stood down, person Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2014 casualty treated and Members: 17 evacuated not found transported to Donard Pk Members: 10 Members: 15 3 January 2 April 17 May Members: 3 2 August 10.05: Search for 1500: Assistance to walker 0800: Shoreline search for 1610: Request from 19 September 12 December vulnerable missing person with suspected fractured missing person after boat 8 June MMRT to assist in search 1130: Search for 0020: Advice to PSNI of in Derry/Londonderry area ankle on Slemish Mountain capsized in Lough Erne 0925: Assistance to Focus for party lost in Mournes vulnerable missing person missing persons lost in Teams: NWMRT, PSNI Teams: NWMRT Teams: NWMRT, RNLI, PSNI Ireland participant in Teams: NWMRT, MMRT, in Omagh area snow in Sperrins 17.00: Stood down, person 1700: Stood down, first 1130: Stood down, body Mournes with head injury PSNI, SARDA Teams: NWMRT Teams: NWMRT, PSNI not found. Body later aid administered and recovered by divers Teams: NWMRT 1650: Stood down, party 1950: Stood down, person 0155: Stood down after recovered. assistance to walk casualty Members: 7 0950: Stood down, escorted from hill by other not found PSNI located casualties Members: 25 to car park casualty treated and able hill walkers Members: 17 Members: 1 Search and rescue Members: 3 17 May to continue with event. Members: 10 organisation teams 3 January 0900: Assistance to Members: 3 20 September 14 December 1100: Stand-by during 9 April asthmatic female on Divis 3 August 1130: Assistance to 1140: Search for CRS - Community Rescue Belfast and east coast 0800: Search for missing Mountain 19 June 0930: Search for missing footballer with broken vulnerable missing person Service flood warnings male in Portrush area Teams: NWMRT 2305: Search for female in Sperrins area lower leg, at fund raising in Ballycastle area DWMRT - Dublin & Teams: NWMRT, PSNI, Teams: NWMRT 1100: Stood down, person vulnerable missing person Teams: NWMRT event Teams: NMRT Wicklow Mountain Rescue NIAS, NIFRS 1600: Stand down, person evacuated to hospital in Irvinestown on 20 June 1800: Stood down, person Teams: NWMRT 1330: Stood down, Team 1700: Stood down, not found Members: 1 Teams: NWMRT not found but sighted 1230: Stood down, casualty located safely no serious flooding Members: 13 2330: Stood down, person several days later casualty treated and Members: 17 FSAR - Foyle Search and experienced 20 May located Members: 35 evacuated to NIAS Rescue Members: 14 21 April 1925: Assistance to female Members: 3 Members: 2 18 December 0715: Search for missing found lying at roadside in 9 August 1415: Search for NIAS - Northern Ireland 3 January male in Fintona area Sperrins 28 June 0700: Request from 20 September vulnerable missing person Ambulance Service 1700: Stand-by to search Teams: NWMRT Teams: NWMRT 0007: Call out, missing DWMRT to assist in search 1700: Assistance in in Enniskillen area including Hazardous Area for vulnerable missing 1430: Stood down after 2100: Stood down, female party in Mournes for elderly male in North recovering drone from cliff Teams: NWMRT Response Team (HART) person in Fermanagh male reported home evacuated to home Teams: NWMRT Dublin on Benevnagh Mountain 1700: Stood down, person Teams: NWMRT, PSNI Members: 27 Members: 4 0500: Stood down, party Teams: NWMRT, DWMRT Teams: NWMRT not found NIFRS - Northern Ireland 2000: Stood down, person located. 1900: Stood down, person 2000: Stood down, drone Members: 12 Fire and Rescue Service found alive 30 April 21 May Members: 13 not found recovered Members: 26 1935: Search for missing 1330: Stand-by to assist Members: 4 Members: 5 19 December NWMRT - North West 15 June 0800: Search for Mountain Rescue Team child in Plumbridge search for elderly person in 15 January Teams: NWMRT County Wicklow 1912: Assistance to 26 August 28 September vulnerable missing person MMRT - Mourne Mountain 0700: Search for 1942: Stood down before Teams: NWMRT, DWMRT two lost females on 0130: Request from 1038: Assistance to cyclist in Enniskillen area Rescue Team vulnerable missing person team called out 2115: Stood down, person Benevnagh Mountain MMRT to assist in search who collapsed in Lough Teams: NWMRT in Wicklow Members: 2 found deceased Teams: NWMRT for father and son in Fea area 1600: Stood down, person PSNI - Police Service Teams: NWMRT, DWMRT Members: 8 1941: Stood down, Mourne Mountains Teams: NWMRT not found Northern Ireland. 1800: Stood down, person 8 May females given directions Teams: NWMRT, MMRT 1115: Stood down, Members: 10 not found 2333: Police request to 22 May off mountain 0500: Stood down, casualty treated and hand RNLI - Royal National; locate vulnerable missing 1520: Search for high Members: 3 missing persons located, over to NIAS 26/27 December Lifeboat Institution 25 January person via SARLOC risk missing person in treated and evacuated by Members: 5 1715: Search for 2 missing 1125: Search for Teams: NWMRT, PSNI Enniskillen area 19 July MMRT walkers on Cuilcagh SARDA - Search and 1305: Assistance to unwell 25 October Mountain Rescue Dog Association vulnerable missing person 0010: No response using Teams: NWMRT, PSNI Members: 5 around wooded area at SARLOC, PSNI continued 1730: Stood down, person female in Sperrins 0930: Search for Teams: NWMRT SARLOC - Search and Gransha Hospital search located Teams: NWMRT 6 September vulnerable missing female 0020: Stood down, Rescue locating APP Teams: NWMRT, PSNI Members: 3 Members: 12 1430: Stood down, 2107: Search for two in Lough Foyle area casualties located and 1800: Stood down, person casualty treated and missing persons on Teams: NWMRT, FSAR escorted off mountain not found 16 May 7 June escorted from hill Cuilcagh Mountain 1350: Stood down, person Members: 13 Members: 22 2030: Shoreline search for 1415: Assistance to Members: 6 Teams: NWMRT found deceased and missing person after boat teenager with neurological 2255: Stood down, evacuated 29 January capsized in Lough Erne condition in Mourne 19 July persons navigated off hill Members: 14 0800: Search for Teams: NWMRT, RNLI, PSNI Mountains 1440: Assistance to to road vulnerable missing person 2330: Stood down, person Teams: NWMRT, MMRT female with ankle injury in Members: 17 on east bank of Foyle not found. 1700: Stood down, Sperrins 24 November Teams: NWMRT Members: 10 helicopter evacuation to Teams: NWMRT 12 September 1320: Search for 1700: Stood down, person hospital 1515: Stood down, 1445: Search for missing vulnerable missing person not found Members: 14 casualty treated and male in Tandragee area in Belfast Members: 12 escorted from hill Teams: NWMRT Teams: NWMRT, PSNI Members: 4 2130: Stood down, person 1425: Stood down whilst not located on route to scene Members: 10 Members: 11   Community Events Marty O’Connor helping Santa A valuable opportunity to educate on safety and demonstrate our team capabilities

24 February 29 April 25 June 11 October 1845-2100 0930-1230 1230-1430 1100-1700 Demo to Scout Groups Emergency Services visit to Fire Services Boat Launch Demo to public in Belfast in Tyrone Laghey Primary School on Lough Foyle Members: 11 Members: 4 Members: 4 Members: 2 13 October 28 February 2 May 2 August 1830-2030 1200-1400 1400-1730 1300-1700 Demo to Scout Group in Demo to Youth Group in Talk and demo to Duke RNLI Lifeboat Open Day at Ballymoney Dungannon of Edinburgh Group in Red Bay Members: 3 Members: 4 Omagh Academy Members: 7 Members: 2 30 October 14 March 4 August 1730-1930 0930-1630 19 May 1700-2000 Lantern Walk in Drumnagh Demo to Green Gym Group 1830-2300 Demo to youth group at Wood, Maghera in Portglenone Forest Display at Banff Divis Mountain Members: 5 Members: 3 Mountain Film Festival in Members: 9 Newtownabbey 30 October 17 March Members: 5 15 August 2000-2130 1130-1700 1400-1800 Public meeting in Sperrin Display at St Patricks 27 May Emergency Services display Rescue Base Family Fun Day in 1000-1430 in Belcoo Members: 4 Enniskillen Demo to Castle Tower Members: 2 Members: 5 School in Portglenone 10 November Forest 19 August 1830-2000 19 March Members: 3 1030-1430 Demo to Girls Brigade in 1500-1700 Demo to Green Gym Group Magherafelt Official opening of Tirgan 28 May in Portglenone Forest Members: 6 Hall, Moneymore 1930-2115 Members: 3 Members: 1 Joint exercise with Scout 21 November Group on Divis Mountain 30 August 0900-1200 29 March Members: 3 1100-1700 Demo at Mossley Primary 1000-1300 Parade of oars and School Demo to Green Gym Group 31 May launch of Currach boat in Members: 2 in Portglenone Forest 1100-1700 Enniskillen Members: 8 Display at Emergency Members: 11 16 December Services day in Enniskillen 1900-2100 10 April Members: 4 7 September Demo at Draperstown 1100-1530 0900-1000 Scout Group Official opening of Divis 20 June Demo for Sperrin Cyclists Members: 3 trail on Divis Mountain 1800-2000 Members: 5 Members: 4 Talk and display fro 19 December Killyman Community 1 October 0930-1230 11 April Group near Dungannon 2045-2200 Santa visit to South West 0930-1430 Members: 4 Demo to Scout Group in Acute Hospital Demo to Green Gym Group Omagh Members: 4 in Portglenone Forest 21 June Members: 9 Members: 3 1400-1700 Attendance at Killesher 8 October 16 April Fun Day in Fermanagh 1930-2130 0800-1300 Members: 3 Demo to Scout Group in Demo to Prince’s Trust in Newtownards Portglenone Forest Members: 5 Members: 7

  Belfast Hills Walk nwmrt event In May 2014 over 50 participants completed the Belfast Hills Walk - raising essential funds for the team. The event was in co-operation with the National Trust and we extend our thanks to their staff at Divis. The 10 kilometre/6.3 mile route included parts of all four mountain trails, including the much anticipated, recently opened Ridge Trail. The new Ridge Trail offers panoramic views over Belfast, the Mourne Mountains, the Lake District and Scotland. HELP US RAISE FUNDS AT THIS YEARS BELFAST HILLS WALK TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY 16 MAY 2015

This year the Belfast Hills Walk event will take place on Saturday 16 May 2015. There will be two guided walks of the 10 kilometre/6.3 mile route, starting at 10am and 11am. Quechua is Decathlon’s brand for all Walkers who wish to be unaccompanied can start between these times, and the route will things mountain sports – hiking, climbing be clearly marked. All walks are to be completed by 4pm. and camping. You’ll find a range of quality Cost is £10. There is a family rate of £25 for up to two adults and two children. (Those products built to face the adventure in under 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.) You can use this event to the mountains. Inspired by the mountains raise funds for your own charity. Those raising funds for the North West Mountain Rescue of the Andes, Quechua’s products are Team using the sponsorship form will be given a refund on their entry fee on the day of the developed at the base of Mont Blanc in the event. More information at www.nwmrt.org French Alps.

Popular products include Quechua pop up tents, hiking boots and its clothing range – all designed with hill walking in mind. Quechua is known as an innovative brand and has recently designed the first ever mountainproof smart phone. The water and earth-resistant phone has full GPS for hikers, as well as a camera, and runs on the Android operating system.

Available from Decathlon Store, Holywood Exchange Retail Park BT3 9EJ BELFAST Tel : 02 890 422 049

10 11 Rescuer Revealed - Joe Dowdall & Wales. Another altruistic man who signed What is the most unusual thing you’ve over the designs and patents of his stretcher seen whilst in the team? to Mountain Rescue England & Wales. So I’ve seen many unusual things. The one that good people who are selfless - that’s the type sticks in my mind was on Croagh Patrick of person who I look up to. mountain. About twenty of us were taking a What is your favourite hill snack? big McInness Mark 5 stretcher to the top of Not as much a hill snack but when we’re out the cairn on a lovely sunny day. From the top overnight I would fry up two pieces of vegetable I looked down and just below, lying on a big roll, a tin of baked beans and whack an egg flat rock, was a big dog fox - asleep in the sun. into it for breakfast in the morning. It’s health We stood for two or three minutes looking at free! But it’ll keep you going on the hill. it and then it twigged that we were there and up he went and away. I can still see it now, big What’s the worst thing you’ve ever fox lying out not expecting us to be humping a eaten outdoors? stretcher up the hill. One search we did a lot of years ago, just outside Newcastle at Murlough Bay - looking Describe your ultimate mountain day Rescuer Revealed for a man on a really, really cold February in three words. night about one o’clock in the morning. The Flat and easy! Operations Officer Joe Dowdall has What different roles have you had Mourne Team had been out during that day What advice would you give to been a committed member of the during your time in the team? and still hadn’t found him. In those days, and someone thinking about joining North West Mountain Rescue team for I’ve more or less had every role from treasurer, still today, I always kept a couple of packets NWMRT? to secretary, team leader, training officer, of sandwiches in the freezer, so when you over 25 years. Originally from Belfast, Think very, very hard about the level of equipment officer and presently as operations get pulled out of bed, you don’t have to start he left school at 16 to work for the commitment required because Mountain officer. So the whole spectrum really. making sandwiches. You fill a flask, you take a Post Office and later as an engineer Rescue is commitment. It’s knowing that you frozen packet of sandwiches from the freezer, with BT. It was during this time that In what ways has the team changed are going to inconvenience yourself, cause throw it in your rucksack and by the time you he became an industrial first aid since you joined? yourself grief and indeed at times put yourself need it five hours later it’s fine. But that night instructor. His interest in first aid led It’s got bigger and I’d like to think better. through a certain amount of discomfort and it was really, really cold, you couldn’t even put him to Mountain Rescue. Whenever I joined, the team didn’t have a Land danger. So I would encourage anyone thinking your hand on a gate without being gloved. rover, they actually used a police vehicle and about Mountain Rescue to forget any romantic After about four hours we stopped for a break Why did you decide to join NWMRT? the police had to provide a driver if there was thoughts about blue lights and flashing horns Well I first got interested in Mountain Rescue and I got out my sandwiches. They were as a ‘shout’ (call-out). If the shout was across and helicopters and think purely that it is a when I was doing first aid and was involved hard then as they were when they came out of the border into Donegal, we had to take all the service to other people. with a first aid training organisation. I got a the freezer - just like ham sandwich lollipops! equipment across in cars. young German Shepherd pup and I wanted to Joe Dowdall with Catherine Tilbury train as a search dog. At that time the only Who has inspired you the most during way to train a search dog was to become a your time in the team? member of a Mountain Rescue team. There I look up to the likes of Hamish MacInnes were only two teams in Northern Ireland at who developed the MacInnes stretcher, who’s the time, the Mourne team and the North still out there, still developing stuff, although West Mountain Rescue team. The only other he has now signed over the rights of his person training with a dog belonged to the stretcher to the Scottish Mountain Rescue North West Mountain Rescue Team and so Committee. Another man who’s been very I went along with him and that’s where it all good is Peter Bell; another stretcher inventor started. The rest is history! and president of Mountain Rescue England

12 13 The Holy Mountain

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14 15 The Holy Mountain The Holy Mountain

he Reek, as it is colloquially known, attracts about 1 million pilgrims each year. On ‘Reek Sunday’, the last Sunday in July, over 25,000 pilgrims visit the Reek. At the top, there Tis a modern chapel where mass is celebrated and confessions are heard. Each year on Reek Sunday, all mountain rescue teams from Ireland, North and South, and on occasion, teams from Mainland UK, are invited to assist the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team to provide additional support. This year was no exception for the North West Mountain Rescue Team, as 17 volunteers from the team gathered at our Fermanagh rescue base and prepared to travel to Westport, Co. Mayo on Saturday 26th July. On arrival in Westport we settled into accommodation provided in the sports hall of The Christian Brothers School. Following a “night on the town” in Westport the team settled down at 9pm for a few hours’ sleep. After an early breakfast, kindly supplied by the Civil Defence, we headed onto the mountain at 4am. Our first stop was the Order of Malta First Aid tent where one section of the team was tasked to clear a possible helicopter landing site while others went further up the mountain. Each team remains at one of the designated points before being tasked by Control at base camp to move up or down the mountain as required. Our team dealt with a number of minor casualties on the way up the mountain. Our first more serious casualty was a man in his fifties with chest pain and no previous cardiac history. We were tasked to move further up the mountain to assist another team who were dealing with this patient. Following assessment and initial treatment a helicopter evacuation was arranged. The team was instrumental in clearing a wide area around the casualty to allow for a winch up to the helicopter. The patient was flown to hospital and later underwent surgery to have heart stents fitted. The team dealt with a few more minor injuries and assisted three casualties to descend on foot to the first aid tent. Shortly after 12.00 noon, after eight hours on the mountain the team was instructed to descend to the first aid tent before commencing our final descent. On arrival at the first aid tent we were tasked to stretcher carry a young boy to base camp. The lad had fallen higher on the mountain, suffering facial injuries, but assisted by his father they had managed to make their way to the first aid tent. Having been assessed by a doctor, we carried our patient by stretcher to base camp where he was transported by ambulance to hospital. Back at base camp the team were stood down from operations on the Reek and debriefed. Team members then sat down for a well-deserved lunch. Finally, all that remained was a long and quiet journey home for the designated drivers while the hill-going members dozed and snored their way home. Another busy year on the Reek for members of nwmrt! by Catherine Scott and Michael McConville - nwmrt members

Reek Sunday standby on the slopes of Croagh Patrick supporting Mayo Mountain Rescue Team

16 17 The three sections West Section - Team base Enniskillen cover all of Northern Ireland nwmrt excluding the north west mountain rescue team Mourne Moutains

Portrush Portstewart Ballycastle Coleraine

Ballymoney Limavady LONDONDERRY ANTRIM LONDONDERRY Central Section - Team base Magherafelt Strabane MAGHERAFELT BALLYMENA Larne

Carrickfurgus TYRONE Antrim Lough Belfast Lough Neagh Cookstown Omagh Bangor BELFAST Newtownards

Dungannon Belleek Lisburn Strangford Lurgan Lough FERMANAGH Portadown Craigavon DOWN ENNISKILLEN Armagh Banbridge

Downpatrick ARMAGH

Newry Newcastle Warrenpoint East Section - Team base Ballymena

Keith Thompson Dale Lockens Philip Neeson Section Leader West Section Section Leader Central Section Section Leader East Section

18 19 Where we fit in Search and Rescue Teams in Ireland

DONEGAL DERRY ANTRIM Donegal MRT TYRONE North West MRT

Team Officers West Section Members FERMANAGH Sligo-Leitrim MRT ARMAGH DOWN Team President: Section Leader: Amanda Wilson Uel Hamilton Keith Thompson Catherine Scott SLIGO MONAGHAN Catherine Tilbury Chairperson: Deputy Section Officer and Mourne MRT Damian Cullinan Mayo MRT LEITRIM Davy Campbell Equipment Officer: CAVAN David Sheridan LOUTH Jhan Crane MAYO Team Leader: Diane Sheridan ROSCOMMON Graeme Stanbridge Training Officer: Eoin McKee LONGFORD Barney O’Laughlin Gareth Armstrong Secretary: Gareth McElvey MEATH Eileen Coulter Gary Reid Galway MRT WESTMEATH Gillian Crawford Treasurer: Central Joan Gribbin GALWAY DUBLIN Hazel Anderson OFFALLY Section Joanne McCandless KILDARE Dublin-Wicklow MRT Operations Officer: Jonathan Shields Section Leader: Joe Dowdall Kevin Baker Dale Lockens Kieran Taggart Search and Rescue LAIOS WICKLOW Deputy Section Leader and Kim Ricky CLARE Dog Association Training Officer: Maeve Donaghy Glen of Imaal MRT Gerry Dowdall Marty O’Connor CARLOW Maud Cunningham TIPPERARY Noel McGillian KILKENNY East Pamela Ellis LIMERICK Pat McAteer WEXFORD Section Peter Goldring KERRY Seamus Bradley Section Leader: South Eastern MRT Philip Neeson Sean Corrigan WATERFORD Sid Wheeler Kerry MRT CORK Training Officer: Stephen Forrest Tramore Cliff & MRT Allen Thurston Steve Agnew Steven Mackie Team First Aid Officer: Tim McMillen Marie Hayden Trevor Quinn Public Relations Officer: William Armstrong Louis Edmondson Support Members Communications Officer: Brian Smith Alastair Hill Catherine Campbell Frank Rafferty Team Paramedics: James Irwin Michael McConville Paul McNicholl Dominic Lagan Rachel Beckley

20 21 Training hard

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Branches at Ballymena: 028 2565 4000 Coleraine: 028 7032 0888 Derry: Small hasty teams preparing to depart 028 7136 8822 n 2014 the 45 active members of nwmrt have trained for a combined total of 10,738 hours during 121 training sessions. So how have they spent their time and why is there a need to Iinvest so much time and energy in training the team? Training has focused on preparing the team to be equipped with the necessary skills to undertake search and rescue work when called upon. This has meant that training needs to be diverse and take in the core mountain rescue skills of search, casualty care, first aid, rigging work, communicating via radios and water safety. Along with these, there are the underpinning mountain skills of navigation/route planning, knowledge of clothing/footwear, hill fitness and off-road driving. As well as this, nwmrt has trained with partner organisations to develop working practices with Skywatch (who provide air support to PSNI when requested), Award winning Electrical the PSNI Search and Rescue Team and the various Search and Rescue Helicopter teams from Wholesaler, your no. 1 Choice the Royal Navy and Irish Coastguard to ensure each team member is trained in safe working For all you Electrical Needs! with helicopters (see page 26). Training takes place in the spare time of mountain rescue volunteers. So if you have ever Branches at seen bobbing lights on your local hill at night-time during the week, it has probably been nwmrt Ballymena: 028 2565 4000 training. Training takes place all year round, in all weathers. Mountain rescue callouts rarely Coleraine: 028 7032 0888 happen on balmy summer evenings and so the team must be prepared to go out on the hill Derry: 028 7136 8822 and offer assistance in all weathers and at all times of the day. Search involves two principles; the probability that someone is where you are looking and the probability that you would find them if they are there. The team members have to learn to balance these two factors. That means that in rough or forested ground they need to be close together. In open fields then they can spread out and cover more ground. This was illustrated during a search for a missing person in Belfast in November 2014 when the team had to search impenetrable forested areas close to the River Lagan. On steep ground the team 22 23 Training hard to work easy Training hard to work easy

Snow Training

Training must change and develop with the times. Techniques and equipment are always developing and changing, so the team needs to keep up-to-date with their training and a mountain rescuer is never a finished article. This means that training is a constant balance between remembering new ways of working and forgetting old ways! To this end nwmrt are developing a new range of training courses to keep the team at the cutting edge of search and rescue. This will involve a portfolio of courses with built in assessments. So you can be assured that if you ever have the misfortune to dial 999 and ask for mountain rescue, the men and women of nwmrt are well prepared to help you out of the predicament in which you find yourself. Rigging training excercise By Allen Thurston, nwmrt Training Officer needs to be able to deploy rigging systems to lower and retrieve rescuers. This means that a number of the team spend weekends doing specialist rigging courses offered by Mountain Rescue Ireland. These skills were put to good use when the team was called to assist in a search for a missing person in Tandragee in October 2014. When a search is near a body of water the team need to be able to use buoyancy aids and safety lines to protect themselves. This was particularly evident during the search for a missing person in Derry/Londonderry in January 2014 along the banks of the Foyle. Of course when the team finds someone, then it is important that they can protect them from the elements. The team train regularly with techniques to get cold casualties protected from the wind and rain quickly using improvised shelters and special casualty wraps that insulate the casualty and stop them getting any colder. If a casualty has injuries then they will often require first aid. Training in first aid has to be quite advanced. It can be hours before a casualty reaches professional medical care. All team members have to undertake a first aid qualification in Rescue and Emergency Care (REC3). They must keep this training current to remain on-call. The REC3 training involves a weekend course with an examination at the end. Members must pass the exam. These skills of casualty care and first-aid are then practised and honed throughout the year in the training programme with simulated callouts. These skills were put to the test in June 2014 when the team, who were training in the mountains, came across a paralysed Duke of Edinburgh expedition walker. After protecting the casualty, they used radios to contact base and a helicopter flew from HMS Gannet, Prestwick to pick up the REC3 training casualty and take her to safety. 24 25 Training support for air rescue

Inside Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter

ground from the helicopter using a technique called ‘high lining’ that prevents the casualty and stretcher spinning due to the down draught of the helicopter. It is this preparation that is so vital to being able to assist an injured person. 2015 will see an intensive training period for nwmrt with helicopters. This is because the provision for search and rescue in Northern Ireland will change so that it is provided by a new UK Search and Rescue Helicopter service. Two of these new machines will be deployed from Prestwick airport in Scotland; it is these new helicopters that will provide the service for the majority of Northern Ireland. The training high lining offered on the new helicopters and working systems is now at an advanced stage of planning by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The aircrew are highly trained to operate powerful aircraft that are equipped with sophisticated life saving equipment including heat seeking thermal imaging and a massive searchlight. Often the people who make the initial contact with a casualty in many mountain Preparing for the sky rescue incidents are mountain rescue teams - low tech but no less important to a successful f you are unfortunate enough to be injured whilst walking in the Cuilcagh mountains it would air rescue. We are grateful to the pilots and crew from the Irish Coast Guard for their skill, take around 15 minutes to get a helicopter from Irish Coast Guard, Sligo to Fermanagh. expertise and time in enabling this vital training. IPreparing for such an event takes a whole lot longer. Helicopters are requested by PSNI By Rachel Beckley, nwmrt Support Member through the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC). In Northern Ireland this may mean a helicopter from the Royal Navy at HMS Gannet (Scotland), or an RAF helicopter from RAF Valley (Wales). In the North of Ireland it is more likely that ARCC will request help from the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter based in Sligo. This is a great example of cross-border, joined-up working. The deployment of a helicopter crew is only one link in the chain of events that contributes to an effective mountain rescue; a successful airlift of an injured person from a mountain location requires essential support on the ground. Training nwmrt members for air rescue is now standard within the team. In November 2014 over twenty members of the team took part in one of the scheduled joint training exercises at Sligo Airport with the Irish Coast Guard, learning how to maintain safety on the ground whilst winching a casualty from the ground into the aircraft. As with any emergency response team training, being prepared is a fundamental principle. The training provides each member of the team with the opportunity to be winched from the ground into the helicopter or lowered to the 26 27 Slemish Challenge nwmrt event n Saturday 20th September 2014, nwmrt in conjunction with Ballymena Runners held their annual Slemish Challenge half marathon and 10km run. This race has been Oquoted as being the toughest half marathon in the country, due to the exhausting 1.5km uphill slog at the start. This year the race started and finished close to the Michelin Athletic club on the Woodside Road, and followed a route to Slemish car park and back again. After the gruelling start the course eventually levels off and offers the runners a superb landscape with Slemish in the distance, and then for the half marathon runners, another kilometre uphill to get to the turnaround point. The morning of the race saw the Michelin Athletic club car park buzzing with activity. The Michelin football club were having their Saturday morning match in the adjacent pitch, and a steady stream of runners were coming to the registration marquee to collect their numbers or to enrol for the race. The race got off in perfect time and it wasn’t long before the uphill specialists asserted their dominance on the Woodside Road stretch. At every turn along the route, nwmrt marshals watched over the runners and a team paramedic patrolled the roads on a motorbike. Thankfully there were no incidents with the runners, although the registration staff were called in to provide first aid support to an unfortunate young footballer who had broken his leg in the North West Mountain Rescue Team Team President Uel Hamilton presenting the football match at the Michelin pitch. All nwmrt members are trained to REC3 level in first aid, trophies to the half marathon winners, David Simpson and Lynda Shannon. so the footballer was well looked after until paramedics arrived. The remaining players had a whip round and made a donation to the team to show their appreciation. Runners competed for trophies in both men’s and women’s categories. The first 10k runner to cross the line was Noel Connor, who frequently competes with the Ballymena Runners, in a time of 0.37.30. The first female to finish was Martine Hamill, another Ballymena Runners regular, with a time of 0.48.30. In the half marathon the first man to finish was Ballydrain Harriers runner David Simpson, with a very impressive time of 1.19.01, and the first female to finish was Lynda Shannon from Carrickfergus with a superb time of 1.51.28. Their names and times are engraved on the trophies for all others to admire and aspire to. All the runners who entered made it over the finish line, which was a great achievement given how warm and sunny the day was, and they can be duly proud that they will have earned the respect of their fellow runners for taking on this tough run, and at the same time supporting the nwmrt charity through their entry fee. It should be mentioned that this year’s run wouldn’t have been such a success without the guidance and support of the Ballymena Runners, and in particular Stephen Brown and Robin Alexander who made every effort to put this event firmly in the NI running calendar. Now the race is over and all the signs have been put away, the organising committee have their sights set on the next event which will be held on Saturday 26th September 2015. It is hoped that the winning times will tempt other athletes out there to take up the challenge, and encourage anyone who wants to take part in an organised 10k or half marathon to come along and get recognition for competing in the Slemish Challenge, the toughest run in the country, and perhaps bring home a coveted trophy to their families or their club cabinets. By Phil Neeson, East Section Leeder

28 29 equipped for off road transport, communications and first aid Vehicles

Mobile 1 - 4-wheel drive defender Landrover

he North West Mountain Rescue Team has four vehicles based at strategic locations of ropes and a crag bag containing karabiners and other technical rescue hardware along with across Northern Ireland in order to provide an effective service throughout the area of spare helmets and harnesses and a number of throw lines, buoyancy aids and specialist water Toperations. Three of the vehicles are 110 long wheel base Defender Land Rovers which, safety helmets, essential when searching close to waterways. due to their age, will need replaced in the near future; the newest addition is a 4-wheel drive Each vehicle is equipped with a winch to assist in extracting the vehicle or other vehicles VW van conversion used as a mobile Incident Control Unit. All three Land Rovers, which have should they become bogged down. The vehicles also contains various sundry items such full off-road capability, are kitted identically to make it easier when the three sections work as search poles, helicopter smokes, incident tape, search lights, jack and a tool kit as together as a team. standard. The roof-rack carries the stretcher, which is portable by back pack in two sections, the head- When we are called on an emergency, each individual team member will bring a wide range guard and the wheels which are used when the terrain allows. There is also storage area for of radios and microphones, GPS and technical communications equipment. seasonal equipment such as snow shoes and poles. Written by Noel McGillian, nwmrt member The rear of the vehicle contains a casualty wrap to keep the transported casualty warm, a full body vacuum splint and limb vacuum splints which assist in the immobilisation of a casualty with fractures. In terms of other casualty care the vehicle contains hill party first-aid ‘bum bag’ type kits which travel with any search party and an extended casualty kit which remains with the vehicle until the casualty is located. This extended kit contains cervical spine collars, a Kendric traction device for femoral fractures, Sam pelvic and limb splints, lightweight oxygen cylinder and further extended first aid supplies. Each of the four vehicles carry an Automated External Defibrillator and a number of Kisu shelters. For technical rescue there are a number

30 31 In 2015, the Team will establish a Mountain Rescue Mountain Support Group (MRSG). This is an opportunity for volunteers, who cannot commit to being an Rescue operational member, to get involved in Team activities. It will utilise the knowledge, experience and skills of our Support communities, creating a strong framework in support of operations and training standards. Group Typical activities will include: • Logistical support to courses and training • Non operational team officer positions • Acting as casualties for rescuers and dogs • Marketing, advertising and sponsorship • Equipment checks and acquisitions • Public relations and community education • Information technology and social media • Fund raising

Applicants will be invited to a team briefing and witness a demonstration by members using a variety of equipment before deciding to join. An application to join the MRSG is available at www.nwmrt.org. Get involved with your local Mountain Rescue Team and make a difference!

32 33 Terms and Conditions: Competition to WIN a 1 Promoter is the North West Mountain Rescue Team (NI Charity No NIC100059) and sponsored WIN a fantastic prize worth £85 by Cotswold Outdoor.

2 Members of the North West Mountain Rescue sponsored by Cotswold Team are not permitted to enter the competition. nov8 Race Outdoor, Belfast 3 There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.

4 Only one entry is allowed per person and each person must be 12 years or older at closing date Pro 12 of competition. AXE 5 Entries are to be submitted by email to G R R O T S E V O L G U CAMERA [email protected] and closing date is COMPASS Saturday 28 February 2015. No entry is permitted A S E H T O L C M R A W rucksack CORD after this date. B S T C T S S E N R A H CRAMPONS 6 No responsibility can be accepted for entries not and a horizontal bladder received for whatever reason. FLASK G A H T H C R O T T E I FUEL 7 The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by third N P G A E A F U E L C S GAITERS parties connected with this competition. GPS

8 No cash alternative to the prize will be offered. I M I W G R X R M S K T GLOVES The prize is not transferable. We reserve the right HARNESS P O L P A F B E E T S L to substitute the prize with another of equivalent HAT value without giving notice. E C S A I O T P R O A E HELMET 9 All entries will be submitted into a draw and the LIGHTER winner will be the first correct entry drawn out. E E V O T S O N A P L H Hidden in the puzzle are 29 items MAPS 10 Prize winner will be informed within 7 days of the (listed) that you may wear or use PAN closing date via contact details supplied during L W A T E R P R O O F S entry. If the winner cannot be contacted or does when in the mountains. Items may POTS not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, be spelled vertically, horizontally, S D L A R E M A C O R D ROPES we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the backwards or diagonally within the SCARF winner and pick a replacement winner. T E N T S N O P M A R C puzzle, and some letters may be used SLEEPING BAG 11 The promoter will notify the winner when and more than once. STOVE where the prize can be collected. For a chance to win, TENT 12 The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters After all words have been found TORCH to do with the competition will be final and no submit your answer, correspondence will be entered into. there will be several unused letters. VEST

13 The winner agrees to the use of their name and Rearrange these letters to spell an name, and contact WATCH image in any publicity material. Any personal data essential item when walking in the WARM CLOTHES relating to the winner or any other entrants will be mountains. telephone number WATER BOTTLE used solely in accordance with current UK data by email to: WATERPROOFS protection legislation and will not be disclosed to Many thanks to COTSWOLD OUTDOOR for a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. WHISTLE donating the prize for this competition [email protected] 14 The winner’s name will be published at www. nwmrt.org for two weeks after they claim their COTSWOLD OUTDOOR, BELFAST CITY, 7- prize. 11 CASTLE LANE, BELFAST BT1 5DA 15 Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions. BOUCHER RETAIL PARK, BOUCHER CRESCENT, BELFAST BT12 6HU

34 35

* 20FOR ALL NORTH WEST COTSWOLD OUTDOOR MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM MEMBERS BELFAST CITY: 7-11 CASTLE LANE BELFAST BT1 5DA

COTSWOLD OUTDOOR BOUCHER RETAIL PARK:

*Not to be used in conjunction with BOUCHER CRESCENT any other offers or discounts. Only BELFAST valid upon production of a North West BT12 6HU Mountain Rescue identification card. Offer expires: 31.12.14

3721_North West Mountain Rescue_Half page.indd 1 09/12/2013 09:56 In an How you can How to keep emergency help nwmrt up to date Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Make a donation online or at a street Police, then Mountain Rescue. collection. with nwmrt www.nwmrt.org Be ready to give details of your Organise a fund-raising event. www.facebook.com/nwmrt location, number of casualties, any Participate in a fund-raising event. injuries and your telephone number. twitter.com/NorthWestMRT Sponsor the team through services or equipment.

How to Join the Mountain Rescue Support contact us Group - see page 33 for details Telephone: 07803 201647 How to donate Email: [email protected] Website: www.nwmrt.org Postal address Email: north west [email protected] mountain rescue team Cheque: Payable to “north west 24 Glassmullan Road mountain rescue team” Glenariff Co Antrim JustGiving: http://www.justgiving. com/nwmrt BT44 0QZ Text NWMR22 £2/£5/£10 to 70070 eg NWMR22 £10

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