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LAST UPDATE | 19 Apr 2021
GARDAÍ HAVE SAID that a body has been found during a the search for a missing trail runner off the Comeragh Mountains.
Search teams and a rescue helicopter had been searching for the woman, who is in her 40s, after she was reported missing at 3pm yesterday by a relative.
Gardaí said in a statement this evening that a scene has been preserved following the discovery of a body in the Comeragh Mountains area of Waterford.
No further information is available, it said, and investigations are ongoing.
According to Liz Browne, a spokeswoman for the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, search operations were hampered yesterday by mist and fog on the Waterford mountain range.
It is believed the woman was on the Coumshingaun Loop, a popular but challenging route. Earlier, the South-Eastern Mountain Rescue had asked walkers in Nire Valley, Rathgormack or Mahon Falls to keep an eye out for anything unusual.
“The operation began immediately the call was made. A relative contacted to say that she had not returned home at 3pm.
“SEMRA put search teams onto the mountain and we were assisted by the Coastguard helicopter, but due to a very low cloud base and foggy conditions they were not able to go high up.
“We’re back there now at first light and we would appeal to anyone in the area to keep a look out, drivers or farmers, just anything at all could bring this woman home,” she said.
The spokeswoman said in normal circumstances SEMRA are able to pinpoint a missing person by the use of their phone.
“We would normally send a text message to the phone and as soon as that is opened we can pinpoint where they are but that we believe she has become separated from her phone.
“This has meant that we are doing a traditional search on a very large area.
“The loop, in bad weather, would be very difficult to navigate. It is possible, and we are hoping, that she took a wrong turn and hunkered down for the night.
“We will continue our operation throughout today, we have about 20 on there now, but we expect much more people will join us this afternoon.
“We have called in assistance from units across the country including Wicklow and Kerry and the Civil Defence are also here. Gardaí are also helping in the operation,” she added.
Update by Gráinne Ní Aodha.
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Ah no. Worst possible outcome. Her poor family. May she rest in peace. So sad.
I’m devastated to hear this. I’m a trail runner myself and love being in the mountains. This tragedy has hit home. RIP and condolences to her family.
Hopefully she is ok and not harmed anyway.
@Austin Doyle: She passed away RIP
Hope she will be ok.
@Pat Casey: This is very sad, may she rest in peace.
@Pat Casey: She passed away RIP
Fingers crossed
Please god she is found safe and well. When the weather changes on the mountain and fog/cloud rolls in it’s so easy to become disorientated and not know which way is which.
So very sad…R.I.P
Praying she will soon be found safe.
Very sad. A challenging and dangerous loop. RIP and condolences to her family.
May she rest in peace, condolences to her family and friends
Desperately sad news.. God love her family…
R.I.P. terrible outcome. Strange she became separated from her phone.
@David O Neill: she may not have. We don’t have any details of where the body was found. Terribly saw for all involved in the search and for the lady’s family and friends.
Terrible sad news. RIP
It’s a lonely spot and very little chance of meeting anyone if you get into trouble. God love her and condolences to the family
Very sad news. May she rest in peace. Condolences to her family.
Hoping for a safe return. Means nothing to the story but is it strange they don’t name the missing lady?
@Jimmy Reid: Must inform all next of kin etc first – it takes a while. That be usual procedure with any incident
RIP
Shows the perils of going alone in these conditions. RIP.
Desperately sad news. Her poor family…
So sad :(
Rest in Peace to this lady and condolences to her family
I hope nothing sinister happen to this woman. The fact that the SEMRA had earlier ask people to look out for anything unusual and also now that her body is found the area is sealed off sounds to me like there may be more to this story. Fingers crossed for her and her family it was just a sadly tragic accident.
Look at these messages/posts!
@Dan Duggan: The journal updates some articles Dan, rather than write new ones. So comments can appear completely out of date. When this article was first published, the woman was missing and a search was on. Article just updated to reflect they found a body.
@Writeon: Which is lazy.
May she get through this all right. I hope they find her soon.
Very sad. RIP
Very sad
Very sad. RIP.
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