Tourists and rescuing gardaí trapped in Wicklow

TWO DUTCH tourists and the eight gardaí who tried to rescue them were among 14 motorists trapped by severe weather conditions in Wicklow yesterday. Mountain rescue teams had to resort to skis to help four people, who were trapped all night in a car in a blizzard. On Tuesday night, the two Dutch tourists became stranded in their car in snow in the Featherbeds area, just south of Killakee mountain in Wicklow.

They called emergency services for help and eight gardaí were dispatched from Tallaght Garda station to rescue them.

However, on the way the gardaí, in two 4 x 4 vehicles, got into trouble. They became completely stuck in 1.2m-high (4ft) snow drifts and had to phone emergency services themselves.

Members of the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team were sent to the scene. Using their own rescue vehicles and with the help of a local council worker and his tractor, they were able to rescue the tourists, the gardaí and the cars involved by 2.30am yesterday.

Emergency services also got a call on Tuesday evening to rescue four men trapped in a 4 x 4 vehicles at the Sally Gap. The Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue team was dispatched and made several attempts to access the vehicle, via Laragh, Roundwood and the Wicklow Gap. Snow drifts were so high, however, that the team could not find a way through.

They eventually drove to the western side of the mountains and skied out to the men with food and heating equipment.

At 8am yesterday, the Coast Guard helicopter at Dublin airport was scrambled and the four people were airlifted to safety. Though suffering from mild hypothermia, they did not need to be hospitalised.

Richard Fleming, one of the men rescued, said he could not distinguish between the roads and the mountains. He told RTÉ radio he abandoned his car to search for a house but was disorientated and came upon two men in a Land Rover. The three men then became trapped and were joined by a fourth who had also abandoned a car. The emergency services kept in contact with them throughout the night and advised them to clear the snow away from their exhaust pipes so the fumes could escape, he said.

Ann Fitzpatrick, spokeswoman for the mountain rescue groups, said motorists in the area might have had a false sense of confidence because they were driving 4 x 4 vehicles, but conditions were too severe for them.

She advised people to listen to news bulletins and stay away from upland roads until conditions improve, which is not expected to happen until next week.