THREE American students who have been staying in Kerry for study purposes have been treated at University Hospital Kerry for mild hypothermia following a dramatic after dark rescue when they became stranded at the base of a cliff last night.
The young women, aged in their 20s, had a very lucky escape after they found themselves in difficulty on a narrow ledge at the base of a 60m cliff near Slea Head.
They had become trapped by the rapidly incoming tide near Coumeenole beach which is a popular visitor spot on the Slea Head drive.
Emergency services were alerted shortly before 9.00pm and volunteers from Dingle Coast Guard and the Valentia Lifeboat raced to the scene along with ambulance crews and paramedics. The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, was also summoned but it was unable to get close enough to the ledge to winch them to safety, although it did assist with spotlighting to illuminate the rescue operation.
Members of the Dingle Coast Guard descended the steep cliff with the use of ropes and the casualties were slowly lifted, one at time, to the top of the cliff and to safety.
It is understood they were suffering from the early stages of hypothermia and they were transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Kerry for treatment. It is believed the clothing they were wearing was not very warm and provided little protection against the elements.
Locals believe they three students were walking and got trapped by the fast approaching tide.
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