Hiker dies in New Hampshire’s White Mountains after making mayday call
An experienced hiker died in New Hampshire’s White Mountains after making a mayday call in which he said he was “very cold,” and his body was recovered by a helicopter amid severe winter conditions, authorities said.
Christopher Roma, 37, made the distress call to acquaintances on Tuesday night near Mount Bond in Lincoln, according to the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game. Acquaintances contacted 911 to alert authorities of the situation. The first rescuers set out around 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, but their efforts were slowed due to difficult weather conditions, including “waist-deep snow” and strong winds.
The New Hampshire National Guard was contacted for assistance, and conducted three separate flights to the Lincoln area, but were unable to approach Mount Guyot due to low clouds and poor visibility. A Mountain Rescue Service team reached the hiker at 5:00 pm, but found him deceased. It was decided that all rescuers would leave the mountain for the night and an extraction would be planned for the following morning.
On Thursday, ground teams attempted to access the area via another route and the National Guard attempted an aerial recovery. The cloud ceiling had lifted slightly overnight, allowing the helicopter to land and recover the body of the deceased hiker around 8:30 am.
The statement from the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game emphasized the difficult conditions under which the rescue operation took place. The deceased hiker’s cause of death has not been released.
This tragic incident once again highlights the dangers of hiking in severe winter conditions, and serves as a reminder for hikers to always be prepared for changing weather and to always have a plan in place for emergencies.