The group became disoriented as heavy rain and strong winds swept across the area. Gardaí (Irish police) were alerted, prompting a coordinated response by the Sligo/Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team (SLMRT) and a coastguard helicopter, which were dispatched shortly before 15:00 local time.

Due to low cloud cover and poor visibility, the helicopter was unable to reach the stranded hikers directly. A spokesperson for SLMRT said that because of growing concern for the group, the helicopter transported rescuers to a nearby location on the mountain, close to the men’s last known position.

Rescuers eventually reached the group near the summit of Benbulben while the helicopter remained stationed just below the cloud line.

The four men, who had travelled to Sligo from another region of Ireland, were assessed at the scene and found to be showing early signs of hypothermia.

To stabilize their condition, responders set up an emergency shelter to warm them before beginning the descent. Once they were able to walk, they were escorted down the mountain and handed over to the coast guard crew for further medical evaluation.

SLMRT has since wished the men a speedy recovery and issued a reminder to all hillwalkers to check weather forecasts before heading into the mountains.

“Conditions can deteriorate much faster and more severely than in lowland areas,” the team warned.

Standing at 526 metres, Benbulben is often referred to as Ireland’s table-top mountain, and is a popular destination for hikers—though it can become hazardous in poor weather.