TWO MALE CLIMBERS have been rescued after getting into difficulty while climbing a snow gully at Binevengh Mountain near Limavady, Derry today.

After receiving the call at about 3pm, PSNI search and rescue were transported from Belfast City Airport by an Irish Army Air Corps Helicopter which was in the province helping with animal food relief to farmers because of the recent poor weather conditions.

The helicopter dropped the two members of the PSNI team at the top of the gully which was heavy with snow and ice.

One of the members of the rescue team abseiled down to the two climbers who were in a very precarious position on the mountain. The two men were secured and they were winched to safety in the helicopter where they were given immediate care.

A second team of three PSNI Search and Rescue members, who were training, were picked up at Newcastle and also transported to the scene by an Irish Coastguard helicopter to provide additional resources.

In addition, the North West Mountain Rescue were also tasked and they provided Landrover support to the mountain and the two climbers were then transferred over to them, uninjured, to be returned to their car, for their return journey home.