12 hill walkers lucky to be alive

A GROUP of 12 hill walkers are lucky to be alive following a dramatic rescue on the Galtee mountains in Tipperary.

The mixed group from Co Cork — which included children — had a single adult walk leader during the trek.

They got into difficulties on Tuesday afternoon in atrocious weather conditions and had to wait for five hours for rescuers to arrive and a further three hours before being brought to safety.