Man who fell 50 metres on Mournes is 'stable'

By Amanda Poole – 28 July 2011

A man seriously injured while walking in the Mourne Mountains was airlifted to hospital by the coastguard helicopter.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast yesterday afternoon for medical treatment.

The mountain rescue team, along with the coastguard and the PSNI, were involved in an intensive three-hour search for the man at around 1pm yesterday.

Richard Newell of the Belfast Coastguard said: "We understand he has suffered a fall of possibly up to 40 or 50 metres, so we are talking about head injuries, possible broken bones and lacerations."

Another coastguard spokesman said: "Irish Coastguard Rescue helicopter 116, Police helicopter 44, Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, Bangor and South Down Coastguard Rescue Teams, police and ambulance service were all involved. The casualty was located by Mountain Rescue and transferred to hospital by Coastguard helicopter."

Last night, a spokeswoman for the Belfast Trust described the injured man's condition as "stable".