Derva O'Reilly

Tuam teens safe after Norwegian mountain rescue

TWO Tuam teenagers have been rescued from a glacial mountain in northern Norway after adverse weather conditions forced them to abandon a routine scouting hike.

Derva O'Reilly from Killelane, near Claretuam, and Micheál Quinn Walsh from Cloonmore were among a group of over 2,000 scouts taking part in the hike near the town of Bodo, when weather conditions deteriorated.
They are in Norway as part of the annual summer jamboree Nord 2017 that is catering for 20,000 scouts from all over the world.
Derva's older brother Gavin, who is a leader at the jamboree, contacted their mother Therese late on Monday night to tell her that his sister was in trouble.
“I got a text from Gavin at about 10.30pm on Monday night to say Derva was stuck up the mountain and it wasn't until Tuesday morning that I got a call from the scout leader who had taken the group on the hike,†she said.

'Thank God Derva and Micheál finally got back to camp safe and sound at 5pm this evening (Tuesday) and were reunited with their troop. We all had a long night and day. Emotions were high. The relief is massive,' said Therese.
The two teens are members of Tuam Venture Scouts, whose trip to Norway is a first for the troupe.

Read more in this week's Tuam Herald