A 16-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after falling down a cliff face on Belfast’s Cavehill in the early hours of today.
Emergency services were involved in a complicated three hour operation to rescue the teenager, who fell 20 metres off the rocky Napoleon’s Nose section of the hill.
She was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she is being treated for serious head injuries in intensive care.
Specialist fire crews worked with ambulance, coastguard and police in efforts to retrieve the girl from heavy undergrowth at the bottom of the cliff face.
She had been camping with friends at the well known visitor spot when the incident happened just before 2am.
A Fire Service spokesman said the rescue in pitch dark was very difficult.
“The rescue was very complex in difficult conditions and lasted approximately three hours,” he said.
“The rescue involved line and steep angle rescue equipment.”
PA