The rescue team who tried to save the life of man who fell while climbing Carrauntoohil said their thoughts are with the family of the deceased.

The Kerry Mountain Rescue team and the Rescue 115 helicopter spent six hours on the operation yesterday.

Despite their best efforts, the man died after he suffered injuries sustained following a significant fall, it is understood.

The deceased has been named locally as Gerry Duffy, who was in his 50s and from Co Clare.

It’s believed he fell some 650 feet from the Hag’s Tooth Ridge in the Beenkeragh Ridge near Carrauntoohil in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks in county Kerry.

Read more here: Climber dies in fall on mountainside

The challenging recovery operation took approximately six hours as Mr Duffy had landed in steep, complex grounds, where access was very restricted and rescuers had to work together with the helicopter to recover the body.

“The R115 helicopter assisted the mountain rescuers and lowered four rescuers and gear to the scene. The rescuers then made their way down to the casualty and the rest of the party met them below,” a spokesperson for the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team told Independent.ie.

Ropes were set up by the rescuers and four stretcher lowers were set up to lower the body.

The alarm was raised at 12.20pm yesterday afternoon and the rescuers returned to base at 6pm. While the helicopter initially attempted to reach the casualty, difficult terrain made access impossible and the rescuers worked together all day.

Mild weather made for better conditions for the rescuers on the highest mountain in Ireland.

“It was a very tough day for all involved and Kerry Mountain Rescue Team extends sincere sympathies and thoughts to family and friends of the deceased,” the spokesperson added.

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