Mobile app helps mountain rescuers find lost runner

A MOUNTAIN rescue team managed to locate a lost, long-distance runner thanks to new technology which tracked his mobile phone to within 100m.

The runner was reported missing at 6pm on Sunday after he lost his bearings while training for this Friday’s Art O’Neill Challenge, which requires participants to run 55km overnight through the Wicklow Mountains.

In this case, the man had lost his GPS unit and strayed into a remote location. After receiving the 999 call, the Dublin and Wicklow Mountain rescue team, and the Glen of Imaal Mountain rescue team, put their members on full call-out.