The Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team and the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team both attended the scene.  The young men had begun a walk late in the afternoon following a day of heavy rain.  Within sight of their car they attempted to cross the upper stages of the Avonbeg river, but after one member of the party fell in and became extremely cold, they decided to seek shelter under nearby boulders and to call the emergency services.

It was necessary to stretcher out one member of the group, while the other three were assisted on foot.  After several hours the young men were brought to safety, and everyone was back off the hillside by 2am.

Mountain Rescue urge anyone going for even a short walk in the hills to carry some basic equipment – rainwear, torch, map and compass, food and water.  It is important to recognise also the fact that small streams can become very swollen and dangerous in a very short time following heavy rain.