logo
Man, 40s, dies climbing mountain in Donegal

Man, 40s, dies climbing mountain in Donegal

A man has died after collapsing while climbing Errigal Mountain in Donegal earlier today.
The man, who was in his late 40s, became seriously ill on the mountain around midday.
The emergency services were immediately called in an operation overseen by the Malin Head Coastguard.
Among those who responded to the call was the Rescue 118 helicopter, which rushed to the scene.
The helicopter managed to land close to the man and took him to Letterkenny University Hospital.
However, he was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.
The man's identity has not yet been released as his relatives have yet to be informed of his death.
Errigal, near Gweedore, is the highest peak in Donegal. It is one of the chain of mountains known as the Seven Sisters.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Doctors write to health minister over 'deeply damaging' decision on northwest surgical hub
Doctors write to health minister over 'deeply damaging' decision on northwest surgical hub

Irish Examiner

timea day ago

  • Irish Examiner

Doctors write to health minister over 'deeply damaging' decision on northwest surgical hub

A group of 170 doctors in Donegal have written to the health minister, saying not awarding a new surgical hub to the county is 'flawed, unjustified, and deeply damaging' for patients. Plans to build surgical hubs nationally were first announced in December 2022, with an 18-month turnaround time predicted. However, so far only one of the six has opened, with funding allocated for hubs in Cork, Waterford, and Limerick. A location for the northwest hub has not yet been named, but it has recently emerged this is likely set for Sligo and not Donegal. Now, GPs and hospital doctors have called on health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to meet with them and hear the arguments against that decision. Dr Padraig McGuinness said the decision ignores the reality of local geography. 'Donegal has a larger population than the combined areas of Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal, and Cavan,' he said. Many of our patients would face round trips of five hours or more to access elective surgical care in Sligo. That's unacceptable and dangerous. He added: "This isn't just about a building or a budget line. It's about whether Donegal patients are treated as equals in our health system. Right now, they're not.' Pressures on Letterkenny hospital are a key reason why they need the hub, argued Dr Louise Moran, consultant in intensive care and anaesthetics. "Patients in Donegal already face some of the worst cancer survival rates in the country due to late presentation and access issues,' she warned. 'To bypass Letterkenny again is not only medically indefensible, it's a direct hit on patient safety and regional equality.' Letterkenny is often among the most overcrowded hospitals in the country as recorded by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The hubs are seen as a central part of plans to tackle overcrowding. Each is expected to deliver 10,000 day case surgeries and minor procedures, and 18,500 outpatient consultations every year. Plans by the HSE to instead offer Letterkenny an ambulatory care centre for outpatients are seen by this group of doctors as 'an inadequate substitute lacking ring-fenced funding, staffing plans, or timelines.' Consultant general surgeon Michael Sugrue said: 'We need real surgical infrastructure, not vague promises'. He warned of the long-term impact for recruitment at Letterkenny University Hospital. Without adequate surgical resources, we simply cannot attract or retain the consultants we need. "This decision risks the future of general surgery in Donegal and the long-term viability of LUH as a Model 3 hospital,' he said. They called for an evidence-based review of the HSE's plans to locate the hub in Sligo. In April HSE regional executive officer Tony Canavan said a proposal to build a surgical hub linked to Sligo hospital has been submitted. "We've identified a site for it that will be considered by the HSE senior leadership team in mid-May and then to the board of the HSE at the end of May,' he told RTÉ News.

Woman (70s) killed after two-vehicle collision in Co Donegal
Woman (70s) killed after two-vehicle collision in Co Donegal

Irish Times

time4 days ago

  • Irish Times

Woman (70s) killed after two-vehicle collision in Co Donegal

A woman has died following a two-vehicle collision in Co Donegal . The incident, involving a car and a van, occurred at about 7.30pm on Friday on the R245 at Bunlin Bridge, Milford. The car driver, aged in her 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital where a postmortem is due to take place. The driver of the van, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. READ MORE The road at Bunlin Bridge remained closed with diversions in place. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Road users who may have camera footage, including dashcam, and were travelling in the area between 7.15pm and 7.45pm are asked to make this available to investigators. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milford Garda station on (074) 9153060, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Cancer care campaigners hail ‘positive' meeting with Health Minister in Donegal: 'She recognised our unique situation'
Cancer care campaigners hail ‘positive' meeting with Health Minister in Donegal: 'She recognised our unique situation'

Irish Independent

time01-05-2025

  • Irish Independent

Cancer care campaigners hail ‘positive' meeting with Health Minister in Donegal: 'She recognised our unique situation'

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was in Co Donegal on Thursday as she visited the site of the new Letterkenny Community Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital's Emergency Department and the Haematology/Oncology ward which has been newly restructured to enhance patient care and experience. She also visited the Errigal Chronic Disease Management Hub, where she was given an update on the Care Virtual Ward programme. During the visit, she met with cancer care campaigners Betty Homes, Noelle Duddy, Mary Orr and Roseena Doherty Toner. The cancer campaigners highlighted the need for increased cancer care services in Donegal to prevent patients having to travel hours to other hospitals such as Dublin or Galway for treatment. During the meeting, campaigners were told that the Minister is in support of a plan to increase services in Letterkenny which include the creation of an ambulatory care unit. It is believed that this unit will house cancer services. After meeting with the campaigners, Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she is aware of the need for improved services and added she understands that cancer patients in Donegal have experiences on a 'deeper level.' 'I thank the groups for coming and describing their personal journeys and the journeys of so many other people who live with cancer. 'I really recognise and understand that Donegal has experienced that at a deeper level to many other counties for lots of different reasons. "I have always been aware of the depths of feeling in relation to cancer care services, the need for better services, the distances that people have to travel and how to provide better care. 'I have been listening to the HSE and hospital management on different plans for building on the expansion that is there in relation to cancer services and in relation to haematology services. "They have done some really good work over the last number of weeks to change work practices and to improve services, for example, people are getting their chemotherapy at a much earlier stage. 'There is good work being done and I believe that the HSE and team locally here are developing plans to come to the HSE about certain expansions that will make a very significant difference,' said Minister Carroll MacNeill. Campaigner and cancer survivor Roseena Toner, who has held three protests at the gates of the hospital, presented the Minister of Health with a petition signed by over 1,000 people supporting her call for a specialised cancer care unit at LUH. Speaking following the meeting, Ms Toner said the Minister is aware of the situation in Donegal and it was a 'positive meeting.' 'We are happy with the outcome of today but we have to see what comes down the track. 'There is a plan for an expansion of the hospital and an ambulatory care unit and that is where the cancer services will be housed. "The plans have to go through three or four steps before they get to her. "Unfortunately, as we are learning, everything within the HSE is a process and not something that will happen overnight but if we keep our foot on it and keeping pushing it on, we do feel we will get there. "It will be a few years,' said Ms Toner. Chairperson of Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) Betty Holmes said it was important to meet with the new Health Minister and highlight the ongoing issues affecting cancer patients in Donegal. Ms Holmes, armed with a map detailing the locations of various healthcare services in the country, said the geographical isolation of Donegal is one of the biggest issues affecting patients. 'The map very clearly states that Donegal is not in the equation. "There are so many key issues that affect Letterkenny University Hospital and as far as I am concerned, it is 17 years ago since I said the health services are being gradually removed from Letterkenny Hospital and I have seen nothing that would convince me otherwise,' said Ms Holmes. Ms Holmes said there is excellence at Letterkenny University Hospital but this fact often gets lost as there is a lot of work that needs to be done. "We need to be looking at Ambulatory Centre, the surgical hubs and the key issues that affect patients because patients can no longer travel up and down that road to Galway. 'It has to stop. 'This is our foot in the door and we hope to continue meeting with the Minister, Saolta, HSE and the National Cancer Control Programme. "We are not prepared to let our hospital and the key services collapse,' said Ms Holmes.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store