Civil Defence teams removed three people in difficulty on snowclad hills during their most recent weekly training session last Wednesday (13th January).
Teams undertaking extreme weather training at Greeba Mountain came across a lone female walker heading up to the Beary around 9.30pm.
It was established that her car had become stuck in heavy snow on the track leading up from Greeba Bridge, and she was continuing on foot to the Beary to find two men who were stuck in a car.
Assistant Emergency Planning Officer Ian Young explained, "The teams quickly established a search pattern and located the two men, one of whom did not have adequate clothing for the conditions. They and the car were brought down to Greeba Bridge. They had fortunately not suffered any ill effects from the cold.
"During the rescue, it was snowing heavily and dark with the temperature around freezing. Civil Defence teams are well equipped and well practised in operating in these conditions.
"However, it is totally inadvisable for inexperienced people to attempt to walk or drive up hills in present conditions, especially at night, as accidents could easily happen."
"Obviously, if you do get into difficulties call 999."
Two Civil Defence teams – around 20 volunteers in total – were involved in providing assistance to the three young people, thought to be in their late teens and early twenties. Search and rescue dogs and police search advisers were put on standby but were not needed.
