Two Mass. hikers suffer medical emergencies in NH, one dies

NEW HAMPSHIRE — Two hikers from Massachusetts suffered medical emergencies in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on Saturday and one of them died, according to a release by New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division.

Patrik Svenson. 50, of Needham, was attempting to complete the Mount Lafayette Loop hike via the Falling Waters trail and Old Bridle Path, according to the release. He completed 4.9 miles of the 9-mile hike when he had a medical episode on the summit of Mount Lafayette at roughly 5,242 feet.

At 12:49 p.m., New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officers were alerted of Svenson’s medical emergency. The release said that 911 had been called twice – but they went to Vermont and Maine’s emergency lines before being transferred to New Hampshire’s 911 line.

The calls were dropped, but not before a nurse on scene advised that a man needed medical help, the release said. Hikers assisted Svenson just over a mile past the summit to the AMC Greenleaf Hut building where he suffered another medical episode.

Other hikers with medical training determined it would not be safe for Svenson to be helped down the trail further, as it was nearly three miles to the trailhead.

The New Hampshire Army National Guard was called for help while one of their helicopters was already out for a medical emergency at Mount Jefferson.

At 3 p.m., two Blackhawk helicopters took off from Concord, New Hampshire, to respond to both emergencies at Mount Lafayette and Mount Jefferson. By 3:45 p.m., Svenson was taken by helicopter to Concord Hospital for evaluation.

The other hiker was a 60-year-old from Mashpee who suffered an unknown medical emergency while summitting Mount Jefferson on Saturday afternoon.

The release said he was hiking with a small group when he collapsed shortly before 2 p.m. Numerous hikers with medical backgrounds helped and started CPR and called 911.

A Blackhawk helicopter extracted the hiker from the summit of Mount Jefferson, but he did not survive.

Officials said he was an experienced hiker in good health before he collapsed. His name is being withheld until the family is notified.

Cox Media Group