A young hiker has been hospitalised after being hit by a falling sheep while out in Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains.

Mountains

Mountains

The teenage boy was with a group on Slieve Bearnagh when the animal slipped from an adjacent crag near the Hare's gap on Friday (17.08.18).

A 17-person group from the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team quickly arrived on the scene, where the boy was treated for possible head, neck, back, abdomen and leg injuries, and later carefully evacuated on a stretcher.

He was taken by ambulance to Ulster Hospital's emergency department and later discharged, while it's thought ths sheep left the scene unharmed and unaided.

In a statement on social media, Mourne Montain Rescue Team said: ''The male youth was walking with a group in the vicinity of the Hares Gap when hit by a sheep jumping from an adjacent crag.

''The team responded and located the casualty on steep ground on Slieve Bearnagh. The casualty was assessed and treated for a range of potential injuries including head, neck, back, abdominal and leg injuries.

''When packaged, the casualty was evacuated by stretcher to track access and a team vehicle. After a short transfer to road access, the casualty was handed over to NIAS for further treatment and the onward journey to Hospital. 17 members responded and stood down at 2000 hrs.''