Discovery 5 Becomes Trusty Mountain Rescue Truck

When Ireland’s South East Mountain Rescue (SEMRA) got a grant for a new vehicle in 2017, they found themselves in a bit of a quandary. Their trusty Defender 110 was up for replacement. But Land Rover had discontinued the Defender in 2016, and the replacement was still a few years out. They wanted to stick with a Land Rover product, though –all the rescuers had come to trust them over the years, and they weren’t much into switching to another brand. There was only one other option in their price range – the Discovery 5.

SEMRA took a gamble on the Disco 5, which had not yet arrived in Ireland at that point in 2017. It was the only suitable Land Rover in their price bracket, though. They trusted the brand, and many members had owned their own examples over the years. The Discovery seemed to be able to hold the essentials – a large stretcher, a medic sitting next to the injured person, and their gear. They took a chance and placed an order for one.

Soon after the Disco had arrived and was equipped with its new livery and paraphernalia, it went on its first call. A walker had fallen, but wasn’t too seriously injured – a perfect test run for the new truck. The Disco followed the trusty Defender up the mountain to see how it performed. Vehicles Officer Terry Brophy drove it up, anxious to see how the truck would cope with the conditions.

It took them in stride, and now the Disco has become a vital part of the SEMRA team. It fits a stretcher, climbs the remote Irish mountain tracks they cover and carries their search and rescue dogs. The vehicle’s comfortable off-road ride is perfect in an ambulance role, keeping the injured from getting jostled around too much. The Terrain Response system allows even novice drivers to pilot the trucks up rocky mountain tracks with ease.

As SEMRA performed its 500th rescue, Land Rover made a series of short films to commemorate the achievement. Since 2017, they’ve used their Discovery 5, and over three years it’s been a trusty servant.

Another grant has come up for SEMRA, to replace their other older Defender 110. From being wholly dedicated to their traditional Land Rover, they’re now totally sold on the new models. They’re looking at a new Defender 110 to replace their old one, but are entirely open to another Discovery 5 as well.