Two Massachusetts men suffered medical emergencies Saturday while hiking in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. One has died. The report is based on a press release from the New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division.
According to the release, 50-year-old Patrik Svenson of Needham set out to finish the Mount Lafayette Loop hike from the Falling Waters trail and Old Bridle Path. He achieved about half of the 9-mile hike when he had a medical episode on the summit of Mount Lafayette at around 5,242 feet.
Just before 1 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers received a call regarding Svenson’s medical emergency. The press release said that 911 received two calls. However, the calls went to Vermont and Maine’s emergency lines before being rerouted to New Hampshire’s emergency line.
The calls failed, but not before a nurse on scene informed that a man needed medical help. Hikers assisted Svenson to the AMC Greenleaf Hut building where he suffered another medical episode.
The New Hampshire Army National Guard then received a call for help. Meanwhile, one of their helicopters was already out for a medical emergency at Mount Jefferson.
A little later, two Blackhawk helicopters left from Concord, New Hampshire, to respond to both emergencies at Mount Lafayette and Mount Jefferson. By 3:45 p.m., a helicopter transported Svenson to Concord Hospital for evaluation.
The other hiker was a 60-year-old from Mashpee, Massachusetts who suffered an unknown medical emergency while climbing Mount Jefferson on Saturday afternoon.
He went hiking with a small group when he collapsed. Numerous hikers with medical backgrounds helped and started CPR and called 911. However, he did not survive. Authorities insisted he was a seasoned hiker in good health before he collapsed.
The victim’s identity remains private until the family is notified.
[H/T Boston 25 News]
