Seven teenage girls have been rescued from the Mournes after getting into difficulty earlier on Monday 6 July.
PSNI Inspector Duncan McBain said: “A search and rescue operation was launched after police established that a 999 call made on Monday afternoon had come from a mobile registered to one of a Girls Brigade group camping on the mountain.
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Teenage girls walk down off the Mourne following a MMRT rescu after their group became lost when weather conditions worsened.[/caption]
“The call had been disconnected before the operator could speak to the caller and numerous attempts by police to re-establish a connection with the phone failed.
“Local police officers, PSNI Search and Rescue specialists, and Mourne Mountain Rescue Team were involved in the operation to locate the group and ensure their welfare due to fading visibility and poor weather conditions on the mountain.
“Paramedics were also tasked to the scene and were on stand-by in the event any of the group needed medical treatment.
“The group was subsequently located by the search teams and was safely removed from the mountain. Two of the girls were suffering the effects of extreme cold and one was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.
“All have now been reunited with their parents.
“I would like to thank all of the agencies involved in the rescue operation and our colleagues from Irish Coastguard who also tasked a helicopter to assist,” added Inspector McBain.
A spokesperson from the Mourne Mountain Rescue team said: “We has a callout at 14.26 hours. The team received a request for assistance from a youth group. The group undertaking an expedition had become lost in deteriorating weather conditions with members beginning to suffer the effects of hypothermia.
“The team responded and within 60 minutes had located all seven members of the group spread across two locations from Trassey Track to the Southern slopes of Slieve Bearnagh. Five members of the group were assessed, treated for mild hypothermia and deemed capable of walking out with guidance.
“The other members of the group were assessed, treated for severe hypothermia with one having to be evacuated by stretcher. All of the group were evacuated to team vehicles and transferred to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).
“Due to initial concerns, NIAS, including their HART Paramedics, local PSNI including their SAR Team and Helicopter Rescue 116 were all involved. Thanks to everyone for their assistance, with a special note of thanks to Meelmore Lodge for their very much appreciated hospitality. A total of 16 Mourne Team members were involved and stood down at 20.30 hours.”
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