"Night of Terror
for Germans"
The Kingdom, 20/9/88.
Two German tourists spent the most frightening night of their
lives stranded on a ledge, no bigger than a table top, 900 feet
up on the North face of Carrauntoohil. On Saturday evening last
the couple got into difficulties while trying to follow the ordnance
survey map of the area through fog.
Their cries for help were heard by three different parties on
the mountain and reported back to Kerry Mountain Rescue Team,
who were on the scene shortly afterwards. The Rescue Team made
vocal and visual contact with the couple, who had quite good English,
but they were unable to do anything for them until daybreak.
At first light the Team made it to the ledge, after some very
technical mountain climbing. Fortunately, the couple were uninjured
and they were led to safety through the Devil's Ladder route.
Throughout their eighteen hour ordeal the couple remained calm
and collected but were very frightened, Con Moriarty of the Rescue
Team told The Kingdom. Con was joined on the team by Carmel Cremin
and Tim Hickey, and they were backed up at base by Paul Walker,
Pat Grandfield, John Cronin and Garda Pat Lehane.
