VOLUNTARY MOUNTAIN rescue teams experienced their busiest season on record in 2010, with an average of one call-out incident for every day of the year.
A total of 20 bodies was recovered last year by rescuers, of which 10 were fatalities in the mountains and 10 were people who died in various situations in difficult terrain, according to Mountain Rescue Ireland.
Several hundred people were rescued or assisted, many with serious multiple injuries which were treated, mountain rescue spokesman Gerry Christle said.
Reek Sunday on Mayo’s Croagh Patrick last year was once again one of the most pressurised days for volunteers. The difficult weather conditions on the day precluded helicopter rescue flight.
Activity for voluntary mountain rescue teams has increased by 70 per cent over a 24-month period, but State funding support for vehicles and equipment has been cut by 33 per cent, Mr Christle points out.
Mountain Rescue Ireland has taken issue with Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar’s Dáil statement that the Garda, Civil Defence and Irish Coast Guard helicopters and rescue teams are also available for assistance. Mr Varadkar was responding on July 5th to a Dáil question tabled by Labour TD Ciara Conway on departmental cuts in equipment/fuel grants to mountain rescue teams.
“Without denigrating the valuable contribution or commitment of these other skilled agencies, an obvious reality needs to be highlighted – helicopters or other resources frequently can’t respond to casualties in extreme terrain or conditions,” the body says.
“As was clearly demonstrated at the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage last year, trained skilled voluntary mountaineers can operate effectively where technology can’t. These volunteers need no payment, but they should not have to fund or organise the funding for the necessary vehicles and equipment such as radios and ropes.
“At the very least, the considerable State taxes inherent in the purchase of this equipment should be ameliorated,” it says, referring to VAT on safety equipment.
August was the second busiest month last year after December, and Saturday was the busiest day on average over the 12 months. Lower-limb injuries constituted 33 per cent of all medical conditions recorded.
Mountain Rescue Ireland estimates its volunteers spent 15,042 hours on mountain rescue last year and this did not include training time.
“Ireland is now being marketed as an adventure destination,” it said. “Fáilte Ireland’s figures for 2009 outline that 274,000 overseas visitors, who generated over €150 million for the economy, walked more than five kilometres away from any path or road. Inevitably some of these visitors will become lost or suffer injury and will rightly expect adequate rescue infrastructure,” it says.