Hiker Sends Desperate Text Message To His Wife Spurring A Dramatic Rescue

Randolph, New Hampshire -- A lone hiker in New Hampshire sent a desperate text message to his wife and spurred a rescue operation that saved his life.

Multiple crews undertook an intense rescue operation Saturday and rescued the hiker, who may have died if help did not arrive in time.

The hiker was trekking on the Gulfside Trail in the vicinity of Mount Clay when cold weather struck. He sent a text message around 6:30 p.m. to his wife “telling her that he was cold and wet and could not continue on. He further wrote that he felt he would die without a rescue,” state wildlife officials said in a news release on Facebook.

After receiving the text message, the man’s wife alerted NH Fish and Game Department Law Enforcement Division, according to New Hampshire Union Leader.

The conditions in the high peaks were “treacherous” with freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, snow and strong winds, rescuers said. It was noted that only trained individuals were sent to retrieve the hiker in an “immediate rescue attempt.”

“At 10:38 p.m. the first team located the hiker who was unresponsive and in a highly hypothermic state,” the news release said. “They provided immediate care by placing a temporary shelter over him and attempted to warm him up. Failing to elicit a response, but detecting signs of life, the crew jumped into action, placed him in a litter and immediately started carrying him up towards the summit of Mt. Washington.”

The team carried the hiker for more than a mile up to the summit, where he was placed in a truck and then transported to the location of an ambulance that was waiting for them at the mountain’s base, according to the Miami Herald.

The man was taken to a hospital by 1:20 a.m. Sunday. Officials did not reveal details about his condition.

Fish and Game Officers had received multiple calls Saturday from hikers, who were cold and wet and calling for rescues.

“Sometimes having enough gear is not enough. In weather conditions experienced this weekend it is better to descend and get out of the wind and cold instead of pushing on until it is too late,” officials said.