Injured Hiker Carried To Safety After Four Hours

JAFFREY, NH – On Thursday August 6th, 2020 at approximately 4:00PM NH Fish and Game Conservation Officers were notified of an injured hiker at Monadnock State Park in Jaffrey.

Brian C. O’Neill, 25, of Arlington, MA was hiking down the White Cross Trail, in the area known as the Million Dollar Staircase, when he fell and suffered a lower leg injury. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Mountain Patrol Rangers reached O’Neill at approximately 3:35PM and were able to splint his injury. They quickly realized that the extent of O’Neill’s injury would not allow him hike down on his own so a group of rescuers was organized.

Mr. O’ Neill was carried down the mountain by members of the NH Fish and Game Department, DNCR, Jaffrey Fire Department, Peterborough Fire Department, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team, and many good Samaritans.

Rescuers reached the park headquarters at 745PM where O’Neill was then transported to Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough by the Jaffrey Rindge Memorial Ambulance.

Conservation Officers would like encourage people who are enjoying the outdoors to do so with a great deal of caution. People putting themselves at risk results in a multitude of first responders and volunteers having to abandon social distancing guidelines thus placing themselves at risk.

Please consider that an injury in the backcountry demands a lot more first responders than a similar injury on the street.