These are the call out reports for the team. They will be updated with call out information as the year progresses.
December
Tuesday 30 December 2008, Callout, Magilligan Strand, Co. Derry
The Team was tasked by the PSNI to assist in the search for a missing person. A body was discovered by PSNI and the Team was tasked to recover the body uopn arrival at the scene.
Tuesday 2 December 2008, Callout, Lough Neagh
The Team was tasked by the PSNI to assist in the search for a fisherman who had fallen into Lough the previous evening. A body was discovered in the Lough prior to the Team's arrival on scene.
November
No Incidents/Operations to report
October
Friday 31 October 2008, Standby Belfast Hills
The Team was present on Black Mountain on the Belfast Hills for the annual walk organised by the National Trust to view the Fireworks over the city. One walker was assisted off the Mountain after becoming detached from the walking group.
Wednesday 29 October 2008, Standby Missing Person, Donegal
The Team was placed on standby to assist the Donegal MRT in a Missing Person Search in Donegal. The Team was later stood down as the Missing Person was located.
Thursday 23 October 2008, Callout Missing Person, Causeway Coast
The Team was tasked to assist the PSNI MRT in a Missing Person search on the Causeway Coast. The Missing Person was located by the PSNI Helicopter safe and well.
Wednesday 22 October 2008, Callout Missing Person, Limavady
The Team was called out to serach for a despondent missing person within the Roe Valley Country Park. The Missing Person was located safe and well a short time later.
Sunday 12 October 2008, Callout Lough Navar, Co. Fermanagh
The Team responded to a request for the PSNI to assist in the recovery of a 16 year old dog who fell 200ft of a cliff face at Lough Navar. Team Members descended the cliff by rope while others walked into the base of the cliff to locate the dog. Miraculously the dog was found alive with some minor injuries a short time later. For further details go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7669037.stm
Sunday 5 October 2008 Standby Mount Errigal, Donegal
The Team was placed on standby to assist the Donegal MRT with an event on Mount Errigal.
September
Sat 20 & Sun 21 September 2008, Standby Fermanagh
The Team was placed on standby to provide safety cover for the Fermanagh Wlaking Festival. One participant was assisted off the mountain with a minor injury.
The Team was present on Slieve Donard to provide safety cover for the “Focus Ireland" event in the Mourne Mountains. No Incidents to report.
August
Saturday 16 August. Callout. Glenariff.
NWMRT were contacted by local people reporting a missing person in bad weather conditions in Glenariff at 20.00hrs on Saturday 16 August 2008. After ensuring the PSNI were notified, local members of the Team organised a search of the immediate area by friends and relatives of the missing person. A short time later the missing person had been located, deceased in a flooded stream.
After the PSNI completed their investigations the NWMRT recovered the body and transported it to an RV with the funeral director. The operation took place in some very extreme weather conditions, the body was carried over flooded terrain to a nearby lane to avoid further distress to family members.
NWMRT provided safety cover for the Lurig Run, organised by the Glens Runners as part of the Heart of the Glens Festival. This was an extremely successful event, and no intervention was required by the team.
July
Sunday 27 July 2008. Rescue, Croaghpatrick Pilgrimage, Co. Mayo
The Team assisted the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team during the annual pilgrimage on Croaghpatrick and treated two of the Pilgrims for injuries. One pilgrim was handed over to the Order of Malta First Aid Crew and the second was taken of the mountain by the Team via stretcher.
Saturday 05 July. Flag Day. Limavady.
Members of the NWMRT took part in a Flag Day in Limavady. This was an extrememly successful event, and we raised a total of over £1200. The NWMRT would like to thank everyone in Limavady who gave so generously.
June
Monday 30 June 2008. Animal Rescue, Glenshane Pass.
A Farmer had a heifer stuck in a Bog just off the Glenshane Pass. The Team was mobilised but the animal was freed by locals before we arrived. Eleven members responded.
Sunday 22 June 2008 Missing Person Search, Belfast.
The Team was called out to search for a missing 12 year old boy missing in the Greater Belfast Area. The Team was tasked to search the area in and around Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park in the outskirts of Belfast. The Team Searched in very wet conditions and the boy was not located in the targeted area. The missing boy was found by family safe and well on Monday 23 June 2008.
Saturday 21 June 2008 Standby Dunamanagh, Co. Tyrone.
The Team was contacted by a member of the public to assist in securing Peregrine Falcon chicks which were located in a nest on a quarry face in Co. Tyrone without any adults noticeable within the area over a period of time to feed them. We were contacted a short time afterwards to advise that the parents had reappeared. No action taken.
Sunday 8 June 2008 Standby Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains & North Antrim
The West and Central Sections were present on Slieve Donard and placed on standby to cover the “Focus Ireland" Event in the Mourne Mountains. A female walker with a twisted knee was transported from the Top Bridge at the Glen River in Donard Forest to the Order of Malta Ambulance in Donard Car Park.
Also the East Section was present in the Glens of Antrim and placed on standby to cover the “Walk in the Glens" Event in North Antrim. No incidents to report.
Saturday 7 June 2008 Standby North Antrim
The Team was placed on standby and the East Section was present in the Glens of Antrim to cover the “Walk in the Glens" Event in North Antrim. No incidents to report.
May
No Incidents to report
23 - 26 May
In this unusually quiet period of no call outs, 8 members of the NWMRT and two dogs of unspecified status took a trip to the Mamturk mountains. Staying in the Glenlosh valley they were able to bag Gowlaunard and Maumturkmore on the Saturday. While only 10KM long, this is a routh over some of the toughest terrain in the Mamturks.
Despite a birthday party and olympic standard Trivial pursuits game, the team set off to Killary Harbour. Sadly, it's status as Ireland's only fjord, and the views to the back of Mweelrea, the highest mountain in Connaught were wasted, as our weary walkers raced home for a BBQ and the deciding round of Trivial Pursuits.
Monday's final walk was part of the Maumeen walk, a pilgrimage route complete with small chapel, Holy well and Stations of the Cross all in the middle of nowhere. Stout boots a must for all services!
The general verdict was an excellent weekend, with some tough terrain, and well worth repeating.
Monday 07 April 2008 Missing Person Search, Tardee Forest, Antrim
32 year old despondent male reported missing at 10pm on Sunday 06 April 2008 after his family became concerned for his welfare after a series of phone calls to family members. His van was located by family members in car park of Tardee Forest.
PSNI SAR undertook an initial search at 1am on Monday morning. NWMRT search began at 10am with two search groups searching two forested areas. Person located by PSNI SAR deceased at 11.20am approx 200 - 300m from his last known position (van at car park) a few meters into the forest.
March
Thursday 27 March 2008 Missing Person Search. Co.Donegal - Co Fermanagh Border
At 01:30hrs the Team received a request from the Donegal MRT to assist in a missing person search in the area around the Co. Donegal / Co.Fermanagh border close to Pettigo Village. The West Section of the Team responded and the Central and East Section's placed on standby to respond in the morning.
After initial searches were unsuccessful, a full callout of the Team was initiated at 07:30hrs. At 08:00hrs the Team was stood down as the missing person was located safe and well.
Saturday 22nd March, 2008 Blessington Missing Person Search
At 18.00hrs on Friday 21 March 2008 the NWMRT Team Leader was contacted by the Deputy Team Leader of the Dublin/Wicklow MRT.
A 71 year old man who had went for a walk in the Mountains around Blessington on Thursday 20 March and had failed to return. The Dublin/Wicklow and Glen of Imaal MRTs had searched on Friday with no result. The Dublin/Wicklow Team issued an "All Teams" call on Friday as the local resources were exhausted.
Seven members of the NWMRT answered that call and set out for Wicklow at 4.00am on Saturday morning. One group from Enniskillen and the other from the Glens. The groups RV at Dundalk on the M1 and arrived in Blessington at 07.45hrs.
The NWMRT were tasked to search a total of 5 areas ranging from dense forest to open bog land and abandoned Turf cutting areas (the Moss).
The NWMRT were joined at the later stages by one member of the Glen of Imaal MRT.
A body was discovered by a Search Team at appox. 14.30hrs. The Search was then stood down and after a quick feed we headed back. All members returned safe by appox. 20.00hrs. Almost a 400 mile round trip.
The Team also worked along side of Kerry MRT, Tramore MRT, Sligo/Leitrim MRT , Mourne MRT and Donegal MRT and were part of one of the largest co-ordinated MR searches seen on this island for many years.
Members attending
Paul McNicholl (Paul 1) Paul Kane (Paul 2) Paul McMulkin (Paul3) Garth McKelvey Anthony Murray David Dobbin Joe Dowdall
Monday 17 March St. Patrick's Day, Slemish 2008.
The Team were requested to provide “Safety Cover" for the annual St. Patrick's Day Slemish climb organised by Ballymena Council. There was also a request for “Cover" from the Carntogher Community Association for a walk in the Sperrins on that day.
5 members camped overnight at Slemish on the 16th in a very hard frost. The Team arrived at various times throughout the day. A few minor injuries were dealt with and passed on to the St. John Ambulance personnel on duty.
The Team have raised a number of long standing safety issues with the organisers of the event and there is a proposed plan to improve safety next year.
There were 24 members attending Slemish and 4 on the Sperrins event. They had excellent radio contact throughout the day over distance of thirty miles or more.
Saturday 8 March 2008 Ballintoy Search - continuation
Following PSNI briefing and tasking the team returned to the Ballintoy Harbour area for a follow up search. No finds were reported during the search. Weather conditions were cold with strong to blustery winds and with heavy showers.
The Team had the assistance of the Omagh Red Cross (Fire Service Support ) vehicle as a control point. This arrangement worked well and be of use in the future.
Sunday 2 March 2008 Ballintoy Search - continuation
Following PSNI briefing and tasking the team returned to the Ballintoy Harbour area for a follow up search. No finds were reported during the search. Weather conditions were cold and windy with occasional showers
All three sections were tasked by the PSNI to assist the Coast Guard in relation to a search for 2 elderly missing persons, one male and one female whose car had been found at Ballintoy harbour. The search was on the North Antrim coast and was based around the harbour at Ballintoy. Conditions for the search were cold and windy with occasional showers. The search area ranged from rocky shoreline to high sea cliffs.
After initial briefing by the PSNI the team were tasked to a primary search area of from Ballintoy Port to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
The team completed their primary search area and then moved on to their secondary tasking area which was from from Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge to Kinbane Head. No finds were reported during the search.
February
Monday 18 February 2008 Callout. Portstewart, Co. Antrim
Saturday 9 February 2008 Callout. Clogher. Co. Tyrone.
Callout initiated circa 2200 hours
West Section Leader made contact with PSNI MRT operational from Clogher Station, they requested that the NWMRT would assist them in search for missing person. Callout was circulated to West section with and members responded within 90mins arriving at Clogher station. After briefing the NWMRT members were assigned an area which was searched and the Team reported back to PSNI. This was a difficult overnight search operation in darkness and over fields One area for concern, the mobile network 'crashed' which had a serious affect on the callout procedure resulting in all but 4 members receiving callout and they themselves encountered problems attempting to respond.
January
Saturday 12 January 2008 Missing Person, Riverbank Search, Letterkenny.
All three sections were tasked by An Garda Siochana to assist the Donegal Mountain Rescue Team in the search for a missing person. The subject was an adult male and was classified as a vulnerable missing person.
Conditions were bright, cold and dry with some ground frost. The subject was reported missing from the Letterkenny Hospital and the team were tasked to complete a riverbank search of the area between the two bridges in Letterkenny itself. The area to be searched ranged from urban riverbank to agricultural lowland. Also derelict buildings and an old Graveyard.
Divers and Canoe Teams were also used.
The NWMRT completed this search area in the morning. In the afternoon the Team were re-tasked to search an area of mudflats in the estuary near to Letterkenny. No finds were reported during the Search.
A body was discovered some days later, some distance from the search area.
