Rescue teams help NI snow stranded

Published Saturday, 23 March 2013

Rescue crews have been hard at work helping stranded people across Northern Ireland amid treacherous snowy conditions.

Teams have been working to help those left stranded by the snowy weather. (© Presseye)

PICTURE

GALLERY

A bus carrying 33 Scottish tourists got into difficulty in the snow in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, on Friday evening.

The group was later lead to safety by the North West Mountain Rescue Team.

The same rescue crews were also involved in helping a family who were snowed-in at a farmhouse on high ground, close to Glenarm.

Joe Dowdall said they have been sending up supplies of food.

"When the team arrived they could only get to within about three miles of the farm and they couldn't actually get the people out," he told UTV.

"They're actually carrying food and supplies in to the farm to resupply."

In rural Mallusk, a police helicopter was used to evacuate an ill gentleman to hospital due to his house being completely impassable due to snow drifts.

Meanwhile a group of Methodist College pupils are among those caught up in a 28 mile tailback en route to Stranraer in Scotland.

Thirty six members of the under-12s rugby team stopped around 7pm on Friday.

Coach Davy Wells, who is with the team, said they haven't moved since.

"We left Newcastle at about 2pm and conditions were blustery, then we hit snow which worsened and worsened until we were stopped," he explained.

"It's very difficult to get information as to what is wrong but we gather that a lorry has jack-knifed at the end of the queue, and the tailback is something in the region of 28 miles.

"We have 36 young men with us and they're in good spirits, they're actually out having a snowball fight at the side of the road at the moment".

ENTER A LOCATION FOR 5 DAY FORECAST

Comments

4 Comments

Co Down in Co Down wrote (56 days ago):

Tony in Straid - glad you got tour rant over you, the Police arent responsible for the weather or our ability to cope, we need to adopt a positive atitude and do a bit for ourselves in times of difficilty, not lash out at others. You called them to ask for advice and you got that. They arrnt there just for you to expect a patrol to drop whst they are doing and dash to you, unless there is a real emergency. If there had been one, they'd have been there for you no matter who you are. Hope all is now well with the baby, take care mate.

NIC in Belfast wrote (56 days ago):

The emergency services(Police,Fire Amblance) , the Road service , NIE and volunteer Rescue services have worked very hard over the past few days well done to all . Well done to thoughful neighbours aswell .

Tony in Carrickfergus/Straid wrote (56 days ago):

With the electric out for two days (Just back on Now NIE were fantastic and very helpful) And now the water which is still out. I called the police to day for some advice on what to do. I said the to the PSNI which now means to me (Police Service Not Really Interested). I have a 6 week old baby in the house I can live without electric but now that the water is out I only have enough water until lunch time (Sat) Here's what the PSNI said this is not a police issue you will need to ring the water board. So I said is that the best you suggest!,did you hear me right I have a six week old in the house and my road is not accessible by car with 8 to 10 ft snow drifts and I have no water left to make the baby's milk. They just said ring the water board. So I rang the Water board they where able to tell me what the problem was there is a pumping station that has frozen due to the electric going out. I told them just what I told the police. I have a six week old in the house and my road is not accessible by car and I have no water left to make the baby's milk. They said they believe that the water supply could be back up by lunch time if you still have no water by then call us back but that all we can do for now. So I said to myself am not standing for this., so I decided the take the matter in to my own hands, so I walked to where I left the car last night about a mile down the road over some snow drifts 8-10 ft tall with only being only over a hernia operation a couple of weeks. In order to get to the shops to get pri-made milk formula and bottled water for our 6 week old baby. All I can say is thank you very much PSNI and the Water Service for your great advice, if I had of listened to you our baby would be starving by now.

Cookie19 in Newtownabbey wrote (56 days ago):

Not enough thanks going to all those people out in the cold, treacherous conditions, keeping the roads as clear as possible, fixing faults on essential services including power and providing emergency services all over the country. I've been heartened over the last day or so to see people of all ages helping others, from digging paths in the snow to help cars move, from walking elderly to and from shops and making sure they are ok and have essential supplies. In an age when more and more people seem to only care about themselves it's been the silver lining in the cloud! People taking responsibility for themselves and others, what a refreshing change :-)