24 minutes | Tuesday, 2 January 2024
Did you know that County Wicklow’s 'Lugnaquilla' at 925 meters is the highest mountain outside of Co. Kerry?! In February 2019, 2 very experienced climbers set off to climb Lugnaquilla, a feat that they had accomplished many times before. However, what started as just another climb, turned nasty, when the climbers were caught out by a sudden change in weather. As conditions worsened and freezing frost closed in, there were very real fears for the safety of the both climbers. Close Call, recalls this event, when one of the largest rescue operations ever to happen in Ireland was launched in County Wicklow. The operation involved six specialist mountain rescue teams, including a group from Wales who arrived in two RAF Sea King helicopters. It’s a gripping story about never taking the familiar for granted and of endurance by the volunteer rescuers and the climbers themselves.