Picture special: Family and friends remember Carl at Errigal climb

By Eoin Mc Garvey

THE wet and misty weather did not deter over 100 family members and friends of Carl Henderson to gear up and climb a section of Errigal mountain on Sunday morning, just six months to the day after his passing.

Carl, a father of three young children from Moira, Co Down, was climbing Errigal on Saturday, April 26 of this year with a group of friends when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of paramedics who happened to be on the mountain they couldn’t resuscitate him, and he was transferred by helicopter to Letterkenny University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

To celebrate Carl’s life, a group of family members and many friends decided to organise the climb to raise awareness of the need for a defibrillator on the mountain and to fundraise to ensure the provision of one would be possible.

Carl, 48, was originally from Barwick in England but was living in Moira with his wife Caroline and three children Rían, Aibhilín and Caoimhe. Errigal and Donegal are no strangers to the family as Caroline’s mother Maeve hailed from Bunbeg.

Speaking earlier this month to the Donegal News, Caroline describe her husband as a family man who was so loved by everyone.

“He worked very hard, and he was always so full of life, always laughing.

“ I have heard so many stories of how he was joking while climbing Errigal. He literally died laughing,” she said.

The climbers assembled at the Dunlewey community centre where Caroline and several others addressed the gathering.

Many locals joined in the event as well, while family and friends travelled from various locations in the UK, the North, Monaghan and Mayo.

Members of the emergency services and the Mountain Rescue also attended the event. Cronan Mac Travel ferried everyone from Dunlewey to Errigal and back again to the community centre afterwards where refreshments were served.

The group made their way up the mountain and paused at the point where Carl collapsed as weather conditions were not favourable for a full climb to the top. It’s at this location it is planned to locate the defibrillator that will hopefully help save a life or lives in the future if the need arises.

One of the climb organisers, Annemarie Doherty from Annagry told the Donegal News that around €19,000 had been collected at time of going to press through online donations and pledges.

The money will be used to provide an eco-powered all-weather defibrillator, and funds will also be donated to Donegal Mountain Rescue.

Young participants at the Clim for Carl event at Errigal on Sunday.

Participants in the Climb for Carl event at Errigal on Sunday listening to the safety briefing. (Photos: Eoin Mc Garvey & Brid Sweeney)

Caroline Henderson with her dad Pat Ryan at Errigal as they prepare for the Climb for Carl, her late husband.

Family and friends of the late Carl Henderson at the foot of Errigal prior to the Clim for Car event on Sunday.

Caroline Henderson and the family friends who were with her husband Carl when he suffered a cardiac arrest on Errigal in April look towards the mountain before Sunday’s Climb for Carl.

A misty walk and clim on Errigal on Sunday for participants in the Climb for Carl charity event, remembering the late Carl Henderson who died suddenly while climbing Errigal on April 28th this year.

Peter Murtagh, Nicola la Marche, Linda Murtagh, and Jen Shellard at the Climb for Carl event ar Errigal on Sunday.

Participants in Sunday’s Climb for Carl charity event at Errigal in memory of Carl Henderson.

Caroline Henderson with Roddy Smith and Frances Griffin of the National Ambulance Service at the Climb for Carl event on Sunday.

Tricia Greene, Annemarie Doherty, Niamh Clancy, and Callan Greene at the Climb for Carl event at Errigal on Sunday. (Photos: Eoin Mc Garvey & Brid Sweeney)

Alicia and Finbar Dempsey at Sunday’s Climb for Carl event.

Young Hadleigh Ribeiro was at the Climb for Carl charity event at Errigal on Sunday.