Warning issued as search party rescues teens stranded in Roscommon forest
The two teens were brought safety after being found five kilometres into the forest. Pic: iStock
A warning has been issued to young people about the risks of entering a deep forest in South Roscommon after a search party rescued two teenagers who went missing for several hours last week.
A search party involving gardaí and those familiar with the terrain brought the teens to safety. The two were found five kilometres deep into the forest just before darkness descended.
The forest is surrounded by deep bogland and stretches from Monksland all the way across to the Hodson Bay area.
The teenagers went missing on Wednesday, April 16th for several hours in an area near Larkfied bog, Cushla bog, Curraghmore and Cushla/Monksland.
It’s understood that they were found near an area which has many bogholes, some up to 12 foot deep, and with walls of heavy gorse and May Bush.
Parents and residents in the area are being asked to warn children and teenagers of the dangers of going into the forest.
In a recent social media message, Rob Wallace, owner of Westshore Survival, an outdoors military style activities camp for children, advised those not familiar with the forest to stay away.
He also noted that the land surrounding the area is private and trespassing is forbidden.
“We have got lucky twice now since July of last year. I would hate to think on another day our luck has run out and we don’t get there in time,” he said.
The recent incident follows on from a similar one in July last year when a young woman who had got lost in the forest for almost two days was found in a distressed state.
