Search for woman stranded on hillside

A major search operation is underway today to locate a German woman stranded overnight on Slieve Mór in Achill.

The Mayo Mountain Rescue Team have made contact with the 50-year-old hill-walker by mobile phone but failed to pinpoint her exact location.

Shane Maguire of the team said: “We had initial phone contact with the lady but she was unable to give us her location due to it being pretty foggy up there and she has very poor English.”

Bad weather conditions have hampered the search, which began at 7pm yesterday, with the Shannon-based rescue helicopter unable to operate properly.

Mr Maguire said: “We have the coastguard helicopter in that has left the scene a few minutes ago as weather conditions are not suitable for the use of the helicopter.”

He said the 25-strong rescue team were uncertain of the woman’s condition because she was unable to give a clear description of herself.

He added: “But if she has been still for 20-hours up on the mountain then there is a fair possibility that some form of hypothermia would have set in at this stage.”

“At this stage the team are very tired so we have the Galway team on standby,” Mr Maguire told RTE radio.

Mr Maguire said they were meeting with gardaí and searchers to decide what way the search should continue.