Mourne Mountain Rescue Team assist walker unable to cross swollen rivers in Annalong Valley
A camper has been rescued after becoming stranded by swollen rivers during stormy weather in Co Down.
The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) was alerted to the incident which happened in the Annalong Valley area on Sunday morning following a night of heavy rain.
Police received a report at 10:41am regarding an individual being unable to cross the flooded terrain to leave the area.
A spokesperson for the rescue team explained that the camper had spent the night in the valley and had anticipated poor weather – however they woke up to find themselves cut off on all sides by rapidly rising water.
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Flooding on Sunningdale Drive in Newcastle, Co Down, on Sunday. Pic: Presseye
“Wet, cold and concerned about navigating accurately in the conditions, the individual rightly sought help,” the spokesperson continued.
“A team response was able to walk in from the Ben Crom Valley, reach the camper, and escort them out avoiding river crossings.”
A team of five MMRT volunteers successfully reached the camper and escorted them to safety without the need to cross flooded rivers – additional team members were placed on standby during the operation.
The rescue concluded at approximately 4pm when all personnel were stood down.
A spokesperson for the team reminded the public that heavy rain can have wide-reaching impacts in the hills.
“Flooding doesn’t just make rivers dangerous to cross — it can also cut off routes and make navigation more difficult. Planning ahead and considering how conditions may change can help prevent situations like this,” they added.
The team thanked all involved and reiterated the importance of checking weather forecasts and local conditions before heading into the mountains.