Forty teenage army cadets rescued from Mourne Mountains

Search-and-rescue launched as bad weather swept over summer camp group

Mourne Mountains rescue: a UK coastguard helicopter in Annalong, Co Down, after a group of young army cadets got into difficulty. Photograph: Annalong Harbour Watch/PA Wire
Mourne Mountains rescue: a UK coastguard helicopter in Annalong, Co Down, after a group of young army cadets got into difficulty. Photograph: Annalong Harbour Watch/PA Wire

More than 40 teenage army cadets have been rescued from the Mourne Mountains after getting into difficulty during a training exercise on Wednesday morning.

The UK ministry of defence said that 43 cadets aged between 12 and 17 were visiting Co Down from Middlesbrough, in England, for an annual training camp when bad weather swept in. The alarm was raised shortly before lunchtime.

About five of the children hurt their ankles, and Northern Ireland Ambulance said 16 were suffering from hypothermia, but no serious injuries have been reported among the group, who were based at Ballykinlar Camp.

The UK coastguard said earlier: “Newcastle, Bangor and Kilkeel coastguard rescue teams, and the UK coastguard search-and-rescue helicopters based at Caernarfon and Prestwick, are on scene.

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“Also on scene is the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter, Mourne Mountain Rescue team, PSNI and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The three helicopters are currently situated at Donard Park, due to poor weather conditions, and will support casualty evacuation as further information comes in.”

The bad weather meant that cadets had to be brought off the mountain on foot rather than being airlifted to safety, according to the ambulance service.

Ten accident-and-emergency crews, a hazardous-area response team and mountain rescue responded to the incident. The emergency team set up a base at Annalong community hall to treat the injured. Medical staff have been treating several of the children in the mountains.

The coastguard said it understands that all members of the group have now been accounted for. The children are understood to be in “good spirits” and will be back at their base in the coming hours.