"Doctor Dies on
Kerry Mountain While Three Climbers Cheat Death in Avalanche"
Irish Independent, 24/2/86.
In an incident -packed weekend on the snow-covered Kerry mountains,
a young Dublin doctor lost her life while three injured Cork climbers
were dramatically airlifted to safety after spending a bitterly
cold night on Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain. Dr. Josie
O'Dwyer (names changed), Sandymount, fell 200 feet to her death
last evening after slipping in icy conditions while descending
from Carrauntoohil, between Killarney and Killorglin.
Earlier, in a separate incident, an Air Corps helicopter took
the Cork climbers from a point about 2,300 feet above sea level
to Tralee General Hospital, where all were reported to be comfortable.
Last night, members of Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, who went without
sleep while helping the Cork trio on Saturday night, were called
out again to bring down the body of Dr. O'Dwyer, which was removed
to the Isolation Hospital morgue, Killarney.
The trio, who fell an estimated 1,000 feet in an avalanche on
Saturday afternoon, are all experienced climbers and members of
Cork Mountaineering Club. They were comforted by Rescue Team personnel
during their long night on the mountainside. Their ingenuity helped
them survive in temperatures several degrees below freezing. "We
kept ourselves warm and had plenty of hot drinks," said a
relieved, if bruised, John Walsh. "The hours passed like
an age and we were elated to see the lights and hear voices coming
towards us in the darkness."
Dr. O'Dwyer received very serious injuries to the head and is
believed to have died instantly in her fall from about 2,000 feet
above sea level. She had been accompanied by her boyfriend Sean
Costello, of Merrion Gate, Dublin. Her body was examined last
night by Dr. John McCullough of Killarney.
The 15-hour rescue of the Cork trio was described as "extremely
hazardous" by team controller, Paul Walker of Killorglin.
"Normally, people might not survive in such conditions, but
these climbers were very well clothed and equipped and were well
prepared for an emergency," he added. A much relieved John
Walsh, who was loud in praise of his rescuers, said that the drama
started at around 4pm on Saturday when he and his two companions
had almost reached the summit of 3,414 foot Carrauntoohil. "All
of a sudden, an avalanche of loose snow came down on top of us
and we were swept down a gully," he continued. "We were
actually on a bed of snow and could do nothing to help ourselves.
We must have fallen about 1,000 feet."
Their plight was first spotted by a Dublin climber, Tom Murphy,
who had heard cries for help. A short time afterwards, three other
Cork climbers, who had formed a different group, came on the scene.
They left their bivvy bags and refreshments with their injured
friends and set off for help. Shortly before 8pm, Tom Murphy reached
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cronin, Beaufort, and the alarm was
raised.
Gardaí in Killarney were alerted and the Mountain Rescue
Team dispatched an advance party which included Con Moriarty,
Mary Walker, John Cronin, and Tom Murphy. They set off in the
darkness and came upon the injured people at 1.10am. As well as
bringing blankets and food, they administered first aid. Members
of the advance party stayed with the injured until morning. "They
entertained us and kept our spirits up" remarked John Walsh.
"We had brought ourselves to a point where we would be fairly
easily noticed and had wrapped ourselves in bivvy-bags to keep
warm."
Two further search parties, one with a stretcher, were sent out
during the hours of darkness, including people like Stephen Thompson,
Kevin Tarrant, Mick Barry, Pat Quinn, Tim Long and Jan Van Soest.
A rescue from the air could not be effected until daylight and
the Air Corps helicopter arrived from Baldonnell at 9am. It quickly
set about picking up the injured, who were at the edge of Comeenoughter
lake, the highest corrie in Ireland. All were safely delivered
to Tralee Hospital by 11.30am.
A hospital spokesman said last night that all three were comfortable
and in good spirits. They are expected to be detained for a few
days. John Walsh received over 20 stitches to his face, Eileen
O'Callaghan has a fractured shoulder blade as well as sore ribs,
while Kieran O'Toole is suffering from exposure and is believed
to have an ankle injury.
