MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS and the Coast Guard helicopter became involved in a dramatic rescue yesterday after climbers got into difficulty on Ireland’s tallest mountain.

Three climbers became stuck on a ledge close to the summit of Carrauntoohil yesterday afternoon.

A team of 15 climbers from Kerry Mountain Rescue and the Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter were dispatched in an attempt to reach the climbers.

However, after attempts to airlift them from the mountain were unsuccessful, some members of the rescue team were airlifted to the top of Carrauntoohil, and who were then able to abseil down a steep face  to the climbers.

“The climbers walked off the mountain with the assistance of the Team,” the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team said, “while they were very cold, none of the climbers was injured.”

The rescue took almost five hours from the initial call-out.

Climbers are now being advised to stay away from steep ground on McGillycuddy’s Reeks unless they are experience in winter climbing and have all the necessary equipment, as recent cold weather has made conditions extremely dangerous.

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