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An English couple who got into difficulty due to high winds while climbing Carrauntoohill were brought to safety by rescue volunteers.

Kerry Mountain Rescue Team were tasked by Killarney Gardaí at 1.40pm on Friday last to assist the couple who had become disorientated whilst trying to descend the mountain.

An English couple became cragfast on the north-east face of Carrauntoohill, Colm Burke
PRO Kerry Mountain Rescue Team explained.

“The couple had ascended the Devil’s Ladder earlier and had decided to turn around before reaching the summit due to high winds. On their descent they became disorientated and descended unknowingly onto Collin’s Rib, a steep rocky feature adjacent to the left fork of Collin’s Gully on the north-east face of the mountain.”

A full callout was initiated and the casualty’s location was verified using the SARLOC, a search and rescue locator app.

“Team members climbed to the summit and abseiled down steep and dangerous ground to the casualty’s position, securing them in-situ before assisting them back to the summit using a safety rope system. The casualties were then walked off the mountain via the Devil’s Ladder route,” he said.

A total of 19 team members were involved in the rescue operation which concluded at 9.30pm on Friday night.