A SCHOOL pupil suffering from severe hypothermia was one of eleven teenagers rescued from the Mourne Mountains on Monday during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition.
A team of 23 people were involved in the rescue which began at around 7.15pm and ended at 1.10am.
One girl lost consciousness and was treated for severe hypothermia while others suffered from mild hypothermia.
Four pupils were treated at the scene, while seven were guided off the mountains and made their way back to their teachers.
It is understood the group got into difficulties after conditions deteriorated near Slieve Beg.
The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team said the teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were all recovering well.
Callout 040416: At 1916 hrs yesterday evening, the team received a request for assistance from a school group. The group... Posted by Mourne Mountain Rescue Team on Monday, April 4, 2016
Mourne Mountain Rescue Team said: "Initially seven members were guided off the mountains to team vehicles and returned to teachers.
"A further three were assessed and received further treatment on scene before being guided off and reunited with their friends.
"The eleventh member whose condition was the most severe was assessed, treated, packaged and stretchered to team vehicles for transfer to the Ambulance Service."
The team added: "Clearly had it not been for the outstanding efforts of the young people in this group, this situation would have been much much more serious."
The girl stretchered off the mountain was a pupil at Royal College Dungannon, and prinicipal Dr David Burnett said the team had "done a brilliant job of supporting this girl."
Principal of Royal College Dungannon, Dr David Burnett, said: "This was a joint trip as part of an arrangement between ourselves and St Patrick's Academy in Dungannon."
"The staff and pupils worked very well together. The team did a brilliant job of supporting this girl.
Dr Burrnett added: "The Mountain Rescue team were impressed with how the pupils had looked after each other. Seven of the eleven pupils were able to come down straight away and three of the other pupils stayed with the girl for moral support."
According to Dr Burnett, the injured girl is making a good recovery.
He said: "She was stretchered off the mountain and checked out by paramedics. She was reunited with her mum and is doing really well this morning.
"The rest of the group stayed in a youth hostel last night and headed out again to complete their expedition this morning, while two other groups have also been out on the mountains this morning."
