Emergency services evacuate ill man from Clonmel's Holy Year Cross before annual Mass

A middle aged man, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Holy Year Cross overlooking Clonmel this morning (Monday, August 5), was evacuated by emergency services personnel off the hill to hospital.

The local man became ill at the Cross as a crowd of about 300 gathered there for the annual 11am August Bank Holiday Monday Mass at the landmark located at the top of Scrouthea Hill above Clonmel's Old Bridge community.  

He received emergency first aid from a former Red Cross volunteer before National Ambulance Service, Tipperary Fire Service and Garda personnel as well as South Eastern Mountain Rescue team volunteers arrived at the scene.

The South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association said the casualty was transferred in a National Ambulance Service 4 wheel drive vehicle to a waiting ambulance and taken to hospital.

Holy Year Cross Mass celebrant, Fr John Treacy, PP of Clonmel's SS Peter & Paul's Parish, prayed at the start of the Mass for the man's recovery.

After the ceremony, Frank Fahey of the Holy Year Cross Committee paid tribute to John Walsh for his prompt action in assisting the ill man and all the emergency services who tended to him and were involved in his safe evacuation off the hill to hospital.