Maine Man Dies Hiking in Sargent's Purchase.
Sargent's Purchase, NH (9-16-17) - A Maine man died after suffering an unknown medical condition while hiking up the Lion Head Trail in Sargent's Purchase on Saturday morning.
Officials say that Rolf Diamon, 66, of Windham, ME was hiking up the Lion Head Trail with his son on Saturday morning when he started to feel ill. They were approximately 2 ½ miles from the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and ¼ mile up the Lion Head Trail from the junction of Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The father and son and decided to turn around and start going down due to Diamon's condition when he suddenly collapsed.
CPR was started immediately by Diamon's son and other hikers who had come upon the scene. A call for help was made and rescue personnel from Fish and Game, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Gorham Ambulance were mobilized and responded to the emergency call.
Due to the nature of the medical emergency, air support was requested from the National Guard unit from Concord. A Black Hawk helicopter responded to the request and was able to extract Diamon from the mountain by hoisting him up into the aircraft using a winch; a maneuver which did not require a landing.
Unfortunately, despite all the exhaustive efforts by the many hikers who provided constant resuscitation for over an hour; the arrival of 1st Responders with an AED; and the use of a helicopter to get him quickly off the mountain, he did not survive.
Posted 9/22/17