MA Man Rescued After Falling Off Cliff In NH Amid Lightning, Rain

MARLBOROUGH, MA — A 21-year-old Marlborough man survived a 30-foot fall and a precarious rescue over the weekend while hiking near Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire.

According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, Matthew Blessing got lost off-trail Saturday night along the Kinsman Ridge Trail. As he attempted to get back to the trail, he fell off a ledge and tumbled up to 30 feet, landing on another rocky ledge below.

Blessing suffered serious upper-body injuries in the fall, and was unable to move off the cliff due to a steep drop below. On top of the bad terrain, lightning and rain had moved into the area.

Rescue crews made it to Blessing's location by midnight, encountering difficulty due to thick vegetation and steep drops. After treating his injuries, the rescue crew put Blessing in a harness and lowered him down the cliff to stable ground. From there, Blessing was able to hike through the forest back to the Kinsman Ridge Trail. He then continued up to the Cannon Mountain summit, where he was able to get on a tram and back to the base.

Fish and Game said Blessing was not prepared for the hike, and was not carrying a map, flashlight or rain gear. The agency warned other would-be hikers to be careful this summer due to extra slippery trails following steady rain events over the last two months.