A hiker stranded in the Adirondack mountain range in northeastern New York State survived two nights in frigid temperatures. According to a statement from local authorities, the 58-year-old man was rescued by forest rangers on February 26, as reported by People.
His wife had reported him missing the previous evening. The fifty-something man had set out on February 24 for a two-day hike, as stated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The last contact was at 7:15 am, about ten kilometers from his planned destination, where the victim mentioned being “tired and progressing slowly.”
“Critical Situation”
His vehicle was found about an hour after the alert at the trailhead. Seven forest rangers searched throughout the night to find him, but to no avail. Over twenty rangers were mobilized the following day with police helicopters assisting in the search. The hiker was finally located on February 26 around 3 pm near another trail.
“We couldn’t reach him and at some point, he answered us,” recounted forest ranger Matthew Adams, a member of the search and rescue team. “He was in a critical situation, and we needed to find him as soon as possible.”
As seen in a video released by NYSDEC on social media, the man was later airlifted by rescuers. “The hiker showed signs of mild hypothermia and frostbite,” authorities specified. The victim was then evacuated to a nearby airport to receive medical attention.
