CONTACT:
Sgt. Alex Lopashanski
603-744-5470 603-271-3361
July 2, 2019
Waterville Valley, NH – On Monday, July 1 shortly after 1:00 PM, New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified that a hiker was injured on the Rollins Trail in the area of Mt. Whiteface. The hiker was Ashish Shah, 50, of North Andover, MA. Ashish was hiking with his son Anant when he injured his leg while descending from the summit. Ashish attempted to bear weight on his injured leg but was unable to. Anant placed a call for help and a total of 43 rescuers from Sandwich, Tamworth, Moultonborough, Center Ossipee, Holderness, Center Harbor, Effingham, Madison, and Wakefield Fire Departments responded along with members of Lakes Region Search and Rescue and the US Forest Service and Conservation Officers responded.
Ashish was a little over 4.5 miles from the trailhead when his injury occurred. The first group of rescuers reached him shortly after 4:30 PM and reported that the leg injury was in fact severe and a carryout would be necessary. He was treated and placed in a litter and carried back to the trailhead. He arrived at the trailhead shortly after 1:00 AM on July 2 and was transported by Stewart’s Ambulance Service to Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro for treatment.
While the weather was clear it was 83 degrees at the beginning of the operation and the hike included more than 2,300 feet of elevation gain. I would like to thank the members of the Search and Rescue Community who are called on time and time again for their effort and dedication.