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The history of organised Mountain Rescue teams began on this island in 1962 when the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team was founded. The Kerry Mountain Rescue Team and the An Óige Mountain Rescue Team were later founded in 1966.
The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team is made up entirely of volunteers who live close to the Mournes. Based at the foot of Slieve Donard in the coastal town of Newcastle, all operations and callouts are currently conducted from the PSNI Station.
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It’s not like we haven’t got enough to deal with on a rescue and this isn’t the first time in recent years that we’ve experienced drones being flown in close proximity to responding SAR Aircraft.
Luckily the drone was spotted by attending Police before the aircraft lifted off but the consequences of a drone/aircraft collision could be catastrophic.
Please DO NOT under any circumstances fly drones if you are aware of an aircraft operating in the area or even if you are simply aware of a rescue underway… an aircraft may not be far off.Yesterday evening South Down neighbourhood team were assisting Newcastle Coastguard to secure the landing site for Maritime and Coastguard Agency Rescue Helicopter 199 from Prestwick as they worked with Mourne Mountain Rescue Team to extract a casualty from the area of Lower Cove.
With the casualty safely in the back of a Northern Ireland Ambulance Service ambulance, the helicopter crew began to prepare for take off to return to Prestwick.
As the helicopter made their preparations to take off, bearing in mind the engines never stopped whilst the casualty was removed from it, and its a big noisy, well lit machine, one of the Police Officers in attendance noted a drone operating in very close proximity to the helicopter. They immediately informed a member of Coastguard and members of the MMRT who in turn informed the crew on board. At the same time Officers made their way to the area of the park the drone was spotted in, in order to try and identify its whereabouts and the person that was operating it. Despite this quick action the drone appeared to have left the area, but people in the park approached the Police attempting to point out where the drone had been.
In short, this is absolute madness. Had that drone impacted with the helicopter at any time, the result would have been catastrophic.
Drones are not toys.
This behaviour was in clear breach of the Air Navigation Order and may result in a criminal prosecution.
If anyone has any information in relation top the drone yesterday evening please get in touch on 101 and quote reference 1228 10/05/25, or alternatively tell us anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
13 CommentsComment on Facebook
Drones are a scourge in the mountains in general. Whatever happened to people going out for an experience without having to document it with drones ?
Well done MMRT and the SAR team, such a valuable service, unfortunately these inconsiderate drone idiots want footage for likes and clicks, self centred halfwits putting people at risk.
Gives proper responsible drone fliers a bad name
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