Topsfield man, 52, dies while hiking with family in White Mountains

A 52-year-old Topsfield man died Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency while hiking with his family in the White Mountains, New Hampshire authorities announced. 

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement that officials were notified around 2:14 p.m. on Tuesday that a hiker was having a medical emergency between the summits of the North and South Peaks on the Kinsman Ridge Trail. Officials said a quick rescue response was made difficult because the distance to the nearest trailhead was about four miles. 

Rescuers responded on the ground with medical equipment, the department said. Ultimately, medics from the New Hampshire Army National Guard Blackhawk were able to reach the hiker at 3:55 p.m. and “continued using life-saving measures that family members and other Good Samaritan hikers had started.” At 4:40 p.m., they reached a waiting ambulance.

“Unfortunately, the hiker succumbed to his medical emergency,” the department said. 

The man’s body was taken to a funeral home in Littleton.

Officials said the Massachusetts man and his family had planned to hike to the top of South Peak and return to their car using the Fishin Jimmy and Lonesome Lake trails.

Dialynn Dwyer

Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.

 

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