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North West Mountain Rescue Team 2017 Minimum Donation £2

North West Mountain Rescue Team 2017 Minimum Donation £2

north west mountain rescue team 2017 Minimum Donation £2

Includes Annual Report for 2016

nwmrt north west mountain rescue team nwmrt north west mountain rescue team Contents

Editorial 4 Acknowledgements Callout Log 6 Editor Louis Edmondson Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2016 Photography Thanks to all the team Uel Hamilton 9 members who have President. North West Mountain provided photographs for this publication, Rescue Team particularly Anthony Murray and also Trevor Quinn, for Team Officers & Members 10 his group and specialist photographs. Section Areas 13 Design and Print Ecclesville Printing Ltd Community and PR Events 2016 14

Belfast Hills 2016 Walking Festival 16

Broughshane Run 5K & 10K + Fun Run 18

How to contact us 20 How to donate 20 How to keep up to date with nwmrt 20

nwmrt would like to thank all our supporters, funders and sponsors especially the NI Dept of Justice.

2 3 Those 27 incidents included: Editorial • A Microlite, with two people on board, that went missing in the Mid- as it North West Mountain Rescue Team 2016 was flying to Scotland. NWMRT did an extensive search of the hills in poor visibility, only standing down when the wreckage was discovered at sea. This is the third edition of our annual publication On-Call, illustrating the work and composition of the team and highlighting some of the personnel, training and events in which • A deceased woman was discovered at the base of Benevenagh cliffs just outside we are involved to provide an essential search and rescue service for the whole of Northern Limavady. The team was tasked to recover her body. . • At the annual St. Patrick’s day walk up hill, the team had to help some walkers In common with previous years - and indeed other MR teams on the island of Ireland or in the down to safety, including a stretcher evacuation of a woman who had injured her leg. rest of the UK, 2016 was a very busy and active year for the North West Mountain Rescue Team. • During the annual Reek Sunday pilgrim ascent of Croagh Patrick, where the NWMRT The statistics speak for themselves: - join colleagues in MRI, they were tasked to attend several incidents including a casualty • 27 incidents… approximately one a fortnight, who suffered a Heart Attack, had a defibrillator administered several times and then was which took over 90 hours to resolve. airlifted to hospital. He has since made a full recovery. • 107 exercises lasting nearly 1000 hours and • 121 PR, demo and fundraising events • In very cold and icy conditions, a man and his 6 years old son, who were overdue on which took up almost 800 hours. a return from a walk on Slemish Hill were found suffering from extereme cold and disorientation. A major technical rescue involving ropes, rigging and stretcher ensued, In total, doing the work for which we exist, took nearly 2000 hours which was given feely by our lowering both of them safely to the base of the hill and home. 64 active members and if you add up all of their individual commitment hours, our volunteers collectively gave nearly 13½ thousand hours to the work of the team. Their commitment to this North West Mountain Rescue Team covers nearly 5,000 square miles (12.600 Sq.Kms) life-saving work can only be achieved by the work being put in to training, preparation and of in three sections, West, Central and East, based in ., Co. inevitably fundraising, which has now become (perhaps unfortunately) an even greater and Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Co. Derry and , Co. Antrim respectively. Each section necessary part of the focus of voluntary emergency teams everywhere. has around 20 volunteers of all ages and gender. When a call-out comes in, the nearest section will be the first to respond, then will request other sections and team members to Nearly 300 hours were devoted to fund raising alone, on top of the vital training in workshops help if and when needed. and simulated call-out scenarios which included (to nearest 50 hours)… medical (nearly 900 hours) , search (350 hours), rope, equipment and technical work (2500 hours), navigation (500 2016 saw both a continuation and an increase in liaisons with other teams and rescue hours), communications (750 hours), helicopter (100 hours) and increasingly diverse skills that agencies both statutory and volunteer, throughout the UK and Ireland, assisting in operations are being required of the teams….winter and water safety (1000 hours). But statistics tell only and conducting joint exercises with e.g. Galloway MRT, Carrybridge RNLI, Irish and HM part of the story. They are made up of real people, giving many hours of real time to train, learn, Coastguard and Antrim area NI Fire and Rescue Service. There was also a significant liaison prepare and help for difficult, extremely diverse and….sadly sometimes…tragic situations. with many, very diverse community groups and organisations, to help raise both awareness of our work and much needed funds. Our major fundraising and community events on the Hills Walk in May and the Broughshane Run in August raised significant funding.

Finally…thanks go out to all the people outside of the team who have helped to raise funds…have donated monies….given time in instruction and help…or simply just moral support, particularly the partners and families of volunteer team members. The team could not exist without their understanding and support.

Fundraising Events... Training Exercises... Active Service Search and Rescue Callouts...

4 5 nwmrt Callout Log north west mountain rescue team Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2016 January April May May June 19 January 28 April 2 May 15 May 1 June . . Davagh Forest. Slemish Mountain. Davagh Forest. Co. Antrim. Co. Fermanagh. Cookstown. Broughshane. Cookestown. Notified by a Farmer that a PSNI notified by a local Co. Tyrone Co. Antrim. Co.Tyrone. sheep had been stranded resident of an unknown Team called by parent of Woman walking with her Call out to locate missing in a gully for a number of person calling out in missing child in Davagh family, slipped and fell a injured biker in Davagh weeks and requested our the vicinity of Topped Forest. short distance, injuring her Forest. assistance to get it down. mountain car park and Parents managed to find ankle, when descending Located by Forest Ranger Team members were reported fresh foot prints child while Team was the South East slope of whilst NWMRT on route lowered down to the in the snow going up the mobilising. Slemish Mountain but team continued as July August sheep. It was put in a bag track in direction of the 9 team members NWMRT and NIAS HART potential “carry out”. and lowered to a safe summit. Team responded. Using a 28 July 6 August Search 1 hour Liaised with HART on location. During initial search, PSNI stretcher, NWMRT carried Greyabbey. Slemish Mountain. and rescue 2 May out the extraction and arrival, who said casualty 12 members located 2 dogs, one of had just been evacuated Co. Down. Broughshane. 5 hours. which was caught (Beagle) carry down to the waiting organisation Mountain. with minor injuries. Contacted about female Co. Antrim. and brought to the police Co. Fermanagh. ambulance. teams car. 19 members who was missing and had Man with two children 20 members left a message that “life West Section training 4 hours 4 hours had difficulties descending After further searches in the area, when two was not worth living”, Slemish due to an old CRS - Community Rescue March 12 March by PSNI Dog, NIFRS etc, women went missing from 10 June after breaking up with her knee injury. Service NWMRT were stood down, a charity walk. boyfriend. Members doing Glenariff. with PSNI to review the Antrim Plateau and DWMRT - Dublin & PSNI tasked the team to Glens. Co. Antrim. Stand By put in place in maintenance at the Wicklow Mountain Rescue Co. Antrim. situation in daylight. No case PSNI tasked NWMRT. Slemish Rescue Post were further action taken. respond. West Section Major multi-agency search Team Female runner passed the conducted a search of top Missing person then found called and assisted the first of the Fell Race - 10 members for a Microlite aircraft safe and well. man and two children off of mountain and route of with two people on board, FSAR - Foyle Search and she did not reach stage 2. 3 hours walk. 14 members the mountain. Rescue reported missing in heavy 2 NWMRT members The missing women were cloud and fog above the 1 hour 4 members NIAS - Northern Ireland dispatched along the path eventually found in a pub, area. 2 hours taken by the runner and 31 July Ambulance Service on totally opposite side of Search called off as light 7 August including Hazardous Area runner was located. mountain. Croagh Patrick faded. Tragically the Mountain. Lurig Mountain. Response Team (HART) She was feeling sick and 20 members wreckage was later found dizzy. 5 hours out at sea. Westport. . NIFRS - Northern Ireland Co. Mayo. Co. Antrim. Fire and Rescue Service The runner was walked 30 May 14 members back to Mobile 4, treated Black Hill. Belfast. 14 hours Assist other MRI teams Ambulance seen parked at NWMRT - North West by a NWMRT member - from around Ireland on the foot of Lurig. Mountain Rescue Team and rested for 30 mins NWMRT put on “Stand 18 June annual Reek Sunday Two members of a local by” for missing camper on pilgrimage up Croagh walking group informed MMRT - Mourne Mountain before she insisted on Benevenagh walking back to base. Black Hill Belfast. Camper Patrick. Two incidents by NWMRT that a woman Rescue Team eventually located by PSNI Mountain. 8 team members . NWMRT: had broken her leg up on 13 members Limavady. Co. 1. Woman with vertigo the hill and help had been PSNI - Police Service 4 hours Londonderry. Northern Ireland. 4 hours who was escorted off the sent for. They had phoned Body of a female “Cone” to the Medical the CRS who responded RNLI - Royal National; found at base of cliff at Tent. and an ambulance was Lifeboat Institution . 2. Elderly male walker called. Despite no tasking PSNI required assistance suffered cardiac event from PSNI, “Stand by” SARDA - Search and near the Medical issued to NWMRT but Rescue Dog Association in body recovery and rig abseil down possible Tent. Team assisted then stood down when SARLOC - Search and fall route for evidence in resuscitation and reports arrived that the Rescue locating APP collection. Body extracted evacuation by stretcher woman had been taken by stretcher to PSNI to Irish Coastguard off the hill. vehicle at base of cliffs. helicopter. 19 members 19 members 17 members 2 hours 8 hours 12 hours 6 7 nwmrt Callout Log north west mountain rescue team Uel Hamilton Mountain, cave, cliff and sea cliff rescue incidents 2016 President. North West Mountain Rescue Team

25 August 30 August August November Londonderry man, Uel Hamilton, was one of the founding 11 August Banagher Forest. Banagher Glen. 20 November Dungiven. Dungiven. members of the NWMRT and has been a stalwart of the Mountain. Co. Londonderry. Co. Londonderry. Slemish Mountain. . Broughshane. Co. Antrim organisation for over 36 years. He first discovered his Co. Antrim. PSNI call out to assist NIAS Called received about love of the outdoors in his youth through the Scouting to extract a walker with a walker who was tired Contacted with a report of Woman phoned the PSNI lower leg injury 500 meters and dehydrated, on the an overdue man, with his 6 Association. He steadily grew more interested in a range year old son, who went to because she and her two to trail and ambulance in mountain at the side of of outdoor activities, including hill-walking, climbing and children were now lost in Banagher Forest. the Dam in Banagher Glen. climb Slemish. mist. The man was contacted Man thought he had abseiling and started adding coveted badges to his belt, NWMRT alerted and When Central section begun to come down arrived, casualty had been and his position roughly starting with the Climbing Badge Award. undertook a hasty established. Slemish at the front, but response to the scene. evacuated by helicopter was overtaken by darkness In December 1980, he was invited to become a NT Ranger for Divis (and and 2 Coast Guard Land An approximate grid and NWMRT tasked to find member of the North West Mountain Rescue Unit and a Rovers were on scene. reference was passed to and extract both of them. an auxiliary member) were year later, the group evolved into a fully-fledged team. At also contacted and he was 19 members PSNI air support. Difficulty finding location on scene and went to the 3 hours PSNI air support found of man in the dark, but he that time, the group not only covered the greater Derry area, but also the Mountains, the man and lifted him Summit. They brought the was located towards the until the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team was formed. group to safety. 27 August. to the car park, where an back. Cuilcagh Mountain. ambulance was on site just Complex technical rescue, There were 20 members and the volunteers used their own cars for transport and had 2 members as members of our Team Co. Fermanagh. using stretcher, ropes and some equipment supplied to a rescue post, based at Strand Road RUC station. They had use 1 hour arrived. harnesses. NWMRT informed of a of a white Police Land Rover and VHF radios….but it was enough to answer as diverse call-outs 13 August 20 members 15 members woman found collapsed 3 hours Lurig Mountain. on the Boardwalk on 4 hours as rescuing sheep from crags, to taking part in major search and rescue operations. Cushendall. Cuilcagh. In 1993, Uel took over as Team Leader, securing great improvements to the service Co. Antrim. Team called and found alongside Joe Dowdall, the then Secretary. Their partnership proved to be very beneficial to the the casualty, who had October December Incident 1: Crag- fast recovered enough to walk NWMRT over the next 25 years. In 1996 Seamus Bradley assumed the role of Team Leader woman on steep ground, 20 October 12 December a little. and Uel took on the vital role of Treasurer (which he held for 12 years). close to top of Lurig Casualty driven down to Shane’s Hill. Mountain. Carrick-on- Car Park and declined . Shannon. Co. Sligo. At the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Irish Mountain Rescue Association’s foundation Woman was competing in further help. Co. Antrim. Lurig Mountain Fell Race. Call from SLMRT Team in Kerry in 2006, Uel was given an I.M.R.A. Service Award. His citation reads “ The North West Woman helped from steep 16 members Call regarding a walker Leader to assist them in Mountain Rescue Team was founded in November 1980. Uel was amongst those who brought who had taken ill while on ground, treated for shock, 3 hours responding to a Call Out this about and is still an active member 25 years on. Starting with absolutely nothing, Uel warmed up and escorted Shane’s Hill. where a landslide has down to roadside by NIAS on site and Sligo covered a digger and has been a driving force that has inspired others to move forward to achieve the standard of NWMRT. Helicopter tasked. driver in a Bog. service that the team provides today. Even after a serious illness, Uel returned to full active Casualty air lifted to Stood down before Incident 2: Mountain Hospital. membership and has held all of the key committee positions within the team over the years runner in Lurig Hill race fell mobilisation, after a body and dislocated finger. 8 members. was recovered on scene. as he worked to improve the team and its service to the public. Uel is now President of the 3 hours Incident 3: Runner fell and 17 members. NWMRT and is a person who can be held up as a shining example of service to the community”. 1 hour. lacerated knee. Casualty Uel is still a modest mean despite all this praise…and in a recent newspaper article he treated and helped to roadside. would only say of his exemplary long service: 12 members “I found my continued service to the North West Mountain Rescue Team a rewarding one. 3 hours Whether a person needs help or is missing on a mountain, or in a local area, we have built and maintained a strong team to help them to safety and to bring comfort to their families”.

Rescuer Revealed

8 9 nwmrt Team Members north west mountain rescue team

10 11 nwmrt Team Members Section Areas north west mountain rescue team

Team OfficersNorth West Mountain Rescue Team Where we fit inSearch and Rescue Teams in Ireland

Team President: Uel Hamilton Deputy Section Leaders Team Leader: Joe Dowdall Central Section: Marty O’Connor Portstewart Ballycastle East Section: Dale Lockens Coleraine Chairperson: Davy Campbell West Section: Sean Corrigan Limavady Secretary: Eileen Coulter LONDONDERRY ANTRIM Treasurer: Hazel Anderson Communications Officer: Alastair Hill LONDONDERRY Equipment Officer: Peter Goldring Section / Deputy Team Leaders First Aid Officer: Marie Hayden Strabane MAGHERAFELT BALLYMENA Central Section: Gerry Dowdall Paramedic: Michael McConville East Section: Phillip Neeson Press & Public Relations Officer: Louis Edmondson Carrickfurgus West Section: David Sheridan Team Training Officer: Allen Thurston TYRONE Antrim Lough Neagh Operations: Catherine Scott Training Officer East: Jonathan Shields Cookstown Omagh Bangor Training Officer West: Barney O’Loughlin BELFAST Newtownards Transport officer: Gareth McElvey Dungannon Belleek Strangford Lurgan Lough Team Members FERMANAGH Portadown Craigavon DOWN ENNISKILLEN Armagh Banbridge

Downpatrick ARMAGH Mourne MRT

Newry Newcastle

DERRY ANTRIM DONEGAL Warrenpoint Donegal MRT TYRONE North West MRT

FERMANAGH West Section Central Section East Section Sligo-Leitrim MRT ARMAGH DOWN

Audrey Jones David Dowdall Andrew Kelly SLIGO MONAGHAN LEITRIM Mourne MRT Mayo MRT CAVAN Diane Sheridan David McNeill Anna Millar LOUTH MAYO ROSCOMMON Gareth Armstrong Eoin McKee Anthony Murray LONGFORD MEATH Jhan Crane Gary Reid Catherine Tilbury Galway MRT WESTMEATH Keith Thompson Gillian Crawford Damian Cullinan GALWAY DUBLIN OFFALLY KILDARE Dublin-Wicklow MRT Kevin Baker Helen Peoples Deborah McLaughlin

LAIOS WICKLOW Kieran Taggart Jack Trzewiczek Hannah Davis Search and Rescue CLARE Dog Association Glen of Imaal MRT Maud Cunningham Joan Gribbin John Binns CARLOW TIPPERARY KILKENNY Pamela Ellis Ken Johnston Steve Agnew LIMERICK WEXFORD Robert McMaster Noel McGillian Stuart Plant KERRY South Eastern MRT Stephen Forrest Trevor Hartley Tim McKee WATERFORD Kerry MRT CORK William Armstrong Trevor Quinn Tracey Adams Tramore Cliff & MRT

12 13 Community Events Community Events Community and PR Events List 2016 Community and PR Events List 2016 January October 14 January 6 October. Ballymena. Co. Antrim. Lisbellaw. Co. Fermanagh. Ballymena High Kirk Boys Brigade. Demonstration of Lisbellaw Primary School. Display and demonstration equipment and techniques. of equipment and techniques to pupils. 5 members 2 hours 2 members. 2 hours. 17 October February Castlereagh. Belfast City. 19 February Presbyterian Women’s Group. Castlereagh. Display Dungannon. Co. Tyrone and demonstration of equipment and techniques. Gaelscoil Aodha Rua. Demonstration of equipment and 5 members. 2 hours. techniques. 23 October 2 members 2 hours. Gortin Glen Park. Co. Tyrone. Mid- Walking Club. Recruitment exercise December March plus display and demonstration of equipment and 10 December 13 March techniques. . Co. Antrim Strabane. Co. Tyrone August 13 members. 6 hours. Display and demonstration of equipment and Emergency Services Day. Display and demonstration of techniques to the customers and general public at ‘Go equipment and techniques. 1 August November Outdoors’ shop 5 members. 5 hours. 4 members 4 hours Broughshane. Co. Antrim. 8 November Broughshane 5k + 10K + Fun Run. Organised by Derry City. Co. Londonderry. 10 December NWMRT and Ballymena Runners..this was a major April fundraising, community and PR event involving many Oakgrove Integrated Primary School. Display and Broughshane. Co. Antrim. 30 April people and included an information stand and display demonstration of equipment and techniques to Christmas Fair at Raceview Mill. Display, information of the team and its equipment and skills. pupils. stand and demonstration of equipment and Gosford Park. Markethill. Co. Armagh 28 members 5 hours. 2 members. 2 hours techniques. Two day event - working with the PSNI. Display and 4 members. 5 hours. demonstration of equipment and techniques for Scouts. 6 August 10 November . Co. Antrim. 6 members 8 hours Cushendall. Co. Antrim. Kilbride Hall Brownies and Girl Guides. Display and demonstration of equipment and techniques, plus 15 December. Red Bay RNLI Lifeboat Open day. Display, information advice to Girl Guides about to embark on their first May stand and demonstration of equipment and techniques. Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme Expedition Enniskillen. Co. Fermanagh. 21 May 8 members 4 hours Training. South West Area Hospital. Annual presentation of 3 members. 3 hours. presents by our own Santa and helpers to children who Dundrod. Belfast. 28 August are unfortunate to be in hospital over Christmas. Belfast Hill Walking Festival. Organised by NWMRT..this Lisbellaw. Co. Fermanagh. 22 November 7 members. 3 hours. was a major fundraising and PR event involving many Carrybridge RNLI Lifeboat Open day. Display, Enniskillen. Co. Fermanagh. people and included an information stand and display information stand and demonstration of equipment and of the team and its equipment and skills. Rossory Tree Festival at Rossory Church Hall. techniques. NWMRT Christmas tree for the festival made and June 5 members. 5 hours. set up. 6 members. 3 hours. 25 June Newtownabbey. Co. Antrim September 29 November 25 September. Display and demonstration of equipment and Omagh. Co. Tyrone. techniques to the customers and general public at ‘Go Derry City. Co. Londonderry. Omagh Venture Scouts. Display and demonstration Outdoors’ shop. Legenderry car show at old Ebrington Barracks. Display, of equipment and techniques to Scouts. 7 members 5 hours information stand and demonstration of equipment and 7 members 3 hours. techniques. 3 members 5 hours 14 15 nwmrt Belfast Hills 2016 north west mountain rescue team Walking Festival

In 2016, NWMRT organised and ran a very successful Belfast Hills Walking Festival.

The annual event is one of the highlights for the Team’s calendar allowing us to engage with the public and encourage the safe use of the uplands.

In what was a rare day for the Belfast Hills, the weather was glorious and as a result, there was a great turn-out of individuals, walking clubs and other groups… who came from far and wide including an Antrim Animal Sanctuary, A Newtownabbey Care Home, A Belfast Suicide Charity, The Somme Veterans Centre and The Scout Association.

Many of these organisations raised much-needed funds for their own organisation through sponsorship….and we would continue to support this, but others raised equally-needed funds for NWMRT

Some of the 111 people who took part , opted for the adventurous 20k walk …but the majority of the walkers went for the slightly less strenuous 10k walk. In guided and unguided walks for each distance, they took in Divis Hill, Black Hill and …an area of outstanding natural beauty, which provides the backdrop, to the concrete conurbation of the capital city, Belfast - right on its doorstep.

The good weather provided clear views across Belfast Lough and to Scotland, the Isle of Man, and even Donegal.

2017 Belfast Hills Walking Festival

The 2017 Belfast Hills Walking Festival will be taking place on Sunday 21 May and will build upon the successes of the previous years. The event will start and finish from the public car park on Divis Road and once again will offer either a 10 km or 20 km route to choose from. The routes will be way marked and marshalled. For anyone who wishes, you can also choose to join a guided walk from a team member. This year all participants will receive a certificate of completion, a goody bag and light refreshments following the walk.

To Register for 2017 http://belfasthillswalk.eventbrite.co.uk/

16 17 nwmrt Broughshane Run north west mountain rescue team 5K & 10K + Fun Run

The very first Broughshane 5K & 10K + Fun Run took place on Monday 1 August 2016 in a partnership between NWMRT, Ballymena Runners (BR) and Broughshane & District Community Association (BDCA).

The event was more than simply a fundraiser for NWMRT. It was a unique community event which took place in Broughshane and involved many of its residents of all ages as well as runners from local areas and some from further afield. We are very grateful to local businesses who supported the event and kindly donated goodies such as trophies, water, fruit etc. These included James McNeill Grocery & Hardware, YESSS, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Spar Broughshane, Fitness Elite and Moore Concrete. We also received a large anonymous donation from a local business which was paramount in the overall running of the event.

It was a great success. The aim had been to attract 200 participants…. but the actual number exceeded 350 with a further 100 participating in the Fun Run.

In terms of community involvement and the increased profile of NWMRT… the success cannot be measured specifically, but the press and media coverage and enthusiastic feedback since the event has convinced the partnership to repeat the event in 2017.

Details are still being finalised but will be available at http://broughshanerun. eventbrite.co.uk/

In 2017 the event will take place on Monday 31 July

18 19 In an emergency How you can help How to donate Dial 999 or 112 and ask for nwmrt Website: the Police, then Mountain www.nwmrt.org Rescue. • Make a donation online or at a street collection. Email: Be ready to give details of [email protected] your location, number of • Organise a fund-raising Cheque: Payable to “north casualties, any injuries and event. west mountain rescue team” your telephone number. • Participate in a fund- raising event. JustGiving: http://www. justgiving.com/nwmrt How to contact us • Sponsor the team Telephone (calls only…no through services or Text NWMR22 £2/£5/£10 texts) 0771 121 4131 equipment. to 70070 eg NWMR22 £10 Email: [email protected] How to keep up to date with nwmrt www.nwmrt.org www.facebook.com/nwmrt Join the Mountain Rescue Support Group - contact [email protected] twitter.com/NorthWestMRT

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