Three hikers were recovering after becoming lost in the woods in Maine, USA, earlier this month. With temperatures dropping below zero overnight, two of the three were suffering the effects of severe hypothermia.
Mark Latti of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife told backpacker.com the Cumberland Valley woods where the hikers became lost is a day-use area with marked trails and paths.
At some stage the three hikers ended up in a bog where they remained for the night. At dawn, one of the trio, walked barefoot out of the woods to a nearby house and was able to raise the alarm.
While the hiker was initially wearing shoes, officials suspect they may have been taken off in a panic and left behind.
“That could certainly be a symptom of hypothermia,” Latti told backpacker.com. “Obviously you don’t reason very well once hypothermia starts to set in and sometimes it goes along with that panic when you realise you’re lost and you might not get help.”
According to the report, when the other two walkers were discovered they were so hypothermic rescuers had to carry them out.
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