Members of the Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team were called to Diarmuid and Grainne’s Cave in the Glenniff Valley in County Sligo on Saturday last after two walkers suffered a multiple injuries.
It’s understood that the walkers were part of a group of nine who were descending from the cave when the accident took place.
Fifteen Mountain Rescue Team members reached the scene of the incident, accompanied by three ambulances personnel where contact was established with the group and an initial assessment of the casualties took place.
Both walkers had suspected spinal and lower leg injuries, due to seriousness of the suspected injuries a party of five mountain rescue personnel and three paramedics were immediately tasked to the scene.
Two further walkers had also been involved in the accident however they did not suffer any serious injuries and were able to descend the mountain without assistance.
The paramedics assessed both casualties. They had suspected spinal and lower leg injuries. The first casualty suffered two broken ankles, an injured shoulder and was in severe pain.
The second casualty was in the early stages of hypothermia and had several soft tissue injuries.
The weather conditions were described as extremely challenging with high winds, rain and fading light and helicopter evacuation was not possible.
The Northwest Mountain Rescue team provided assistance the with stretcher evacuation.
Both individuals were brought to the schoolhouse beneath Diarmuid and Grannie’s Cave where they was transferred by ambulance to Sligo University Hospital.
Their injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.
