RESCUED GALWAYMAN DUE HOME FROM NEW ZEALAND ON MONDAY

Date Published: 02-Jan-2009

The Galway man rescued off a steep cliff in New Zealand this week is due home on Monday. 24 year-old Michael Casey from Connemara was among a group of three men reported missing on the West coast of New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday. The group, which included 26 year-old Kerryman Paudie McCarthy and 27 year-old Kiwi Vinnie Elliott, set out for a hike along steep bluffs near Punakaiki (PRON: Poona ky-kee) wearing only shorts and T-shirts and had taken a small bottle of scotch whiskey with them to drink at the top. However they hit a sheer drop when they tried to climb down. A massive air and search rescue operation was launched when they failed to return. The men were finally found by a helicopter 24 hours later, on New Year's Eve. Michael Casey and Paudie McCarthy were on a two week holiday and are due to return home on the 5th of January.