Emergency Search Units join forces to find missing Wicklow m

[Daryl]

Emergency Search Units join forces to find missing Wicklow man Retrieved from http://www.redcross.ie/latest_news/press_releases/2007/emergency_search_units_find_missing_wicklow_man

On Good Friday, as the stormy winds brought hail, sleet and snow over the countryside, the Garda Siochána called on the Red Cross Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team and the Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team to assist in searching for a local hill-walker.

Mr. Walter Hammond (71) of Blessington, Co. Wicklow was reported missing since dusk the previous evening in Black Hill and the Mullaghcleevaun ridge of west Co.Wicklow.

Both mountain rescue teams immediately deployed mountain search parties and set up a joint rescue command post that used the daylight hours to search known and likely walking routes throughout the area.

They were supported by helicopters from An Garda Siochána, the Irish Coast Guard and the Irish Air Corps. The Air Corps helicopter lifted and deployed search parties from rescue base to remote mountain tops. This saved precious time during daylight and enabled the teams to get to distant areas quickly.

By dusk nothing had been found and the call went out to other Irish Mountain Rescue Association (IMRA) teams to assist in the planned search on Holy Saturday. Mountain Rescue Teams from Donegal, Antrim & Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Sligo-Leitrim immediately travelled to Wicklow to assist in the search.

Three search-dog teams from SARDA (Search & Rescue Dogs Association) responded and arrived at Blessington by 7am on Saturday morning. Civil Defense units from Wicklow, Dublin, Meath, Wexford and Kildare were also deployed to the mountain search.

At approx 2.30pm on Holy Saturday, Mr. Hammond’s body was found by the Irish Red Cross Sligo-Leitrim mountain rescue team.

Mr. John Roycroft, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross, said that he was heartened by the speed, goodwill, dedication and genuine commitment from teams when called to help in the search.

"On behalf of the Irish Red Cross, I wish to thank the many men and women from various organisations around the country working with IMRA and the Civil Defense, who gave up their Easter break to help the Gardai and the local rescue teams search for Mr. Hammond. Such a rapid response meant that the entire area was covered as quickly as possible in adverse weather conditions.

The generosity of each and every one of the 150 people involved in the search is a true reflection of their humanitarian and charitable nature and they are a credit to their families, their communities and their country," he said.

Mr. Roycroft extended the deepest sympathies of the entire membership and staff of the Irish Red Cross to Mr. Hammond’s family and friends.