Flood Danger Sparks 'International' Rescue

A rescue helicopter was last night dispatched from Dublin to help in the rescue of two people stranded at the Bloody Bridge area of the Mournes as the South Down Coastguard also went to their aid.

The Mournes drama began when the police contacted Belfast Coastguard yesterday afternoon to alert them to the stranded people. The couple, from Scotland, found themselves trapped at the foot of the Mourne Mountains by fast flowing streams after a downpour.

The PSNI said they were near Bloody Bridge at Newcastle at the base of Slieve Donard, one of the Mourne Mountains, as heavy rains in the area had created two fast flowing streams, beyond which the two were trapped.

The 55-year-old male, and 53-year-old female from Falkirk were only about 400 yards from the car park, but due to the very heavy condition of the river were unable to cross back across the bridge.

The South Down Coastguard Rescue Team were immediately turned out and the Coastguard in Dublin were contacted requesting the use of the Irish Coastguard helicopter.

The man was winched with a member of the Coastguard Team, and taken to the helicopter landing site at Donard car park.

The female was walked down to the Bloody Bridge car park along with members from the South Down Team.

Ian Murdock, Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager, later warned: "We are urging visitors to have an eye on the weather forecast and the terrain into which they are entering, if they are intending to go out walking.

"Tourists are very welcome and the area is of outstanding natural beauty and is the most picturesque mountain district in Ireland.

"The twelve peaks include Slieve Donard, which, at 850m, is Northern Ireland's highest mountain.

"Some areas can be quite rugged and we are advising visitors to wear the correct footwear and ensure they have some form of communication device on them in case of unforeseen difficulty."

This week, it emerged that while "there was no likelihood" of Prince William being stationed in NI permanently as "there is no search and rescue facility", the second-in-line to the throne will almost certainly see service in Northern Ireland as he begins a three-year helicopter search and rescue posting at a north Wales RAF base.

He will therefore be the first member of the Royal Family to serve in the province since the beginning of the Troubles as RAF Valley in Anglesey provides almost all of NI's helicopter search and rescue cover.

Meanwhile, residents in Armagh city have said flash flooding in the area on Wednesday night was the worst seen there in recent years.

The water is believed to have now subsided but at its worst was between 1ft and 1ft 6ins deep.

See: Wills To Fly NI Rescue Missions

(BMcC/KMcA)