Mountain death: SEMRA thank rescue groups for assistance
On Sunday, April 19th, at 3.28pm South East Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) received a call from An Garda Siochana in relation to a missing walker in the Coumshingaun area. The alarm was raised by a family member when she was late returning and was not answering her phone.
SEMRA initiated a full team call out to Kilclooney woods and began searching the immediate area where the walker was last seen. The search continued late into the night and resumed at first light on Monday morning. At approximately 6.30pm a search team located the body of the missing walker - Gillian Ryan from the Thurles area - in a steep gully above the lake.
The Gardai were notified and a team member remained on scene during the night to preserve the scene. Early on Tuesday morning the recovery operation began. Due to the low cloud cover, Rescue 117 was unable to assist at that stage. Team members carried ropes and equipment up the mountain to set up a safe recovery system. In challenging conditions, the casualty was lowered on a stretcher to the bottom of the gully. Weather conditions had improved sufficiently enough by 6:30pm for Coast Guard Rescue 117 to be able to airlift the casualty from that point. After providing technical support to R117, all members were safely off the hill by 8.30pm and returning home.
SEMRA would like to thank the following agencies for their invaluable assistance during the search:
An Garda Siochana
Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 117
Search & Rescue Dog Association Ireland (SARDA)
Civil Defence
Kerry Mountain Rescue
Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue
Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue
Galway Mountain Rescue Team
SEMRA would also like to thank all of the individuals, scout troops and walking clubs who offered to join the search and to those individuals, local businesses and our colleagues in mountain rescue teams throughout Ireland who provided or offered valuable support during the operation.
A SEMRA spokesperson added: "Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased."
Independent TD Michael Lowry said: “There is great sadness locally at news of the tragic passing of Gillian Ryan."