A 79-year-old man from Florida was discovered deceased on Friday morning, having gone missing from Mount Washington’s peak in New Hampshire. This was confirmed by the state’s Fish and Game Department through a social media announcement.
Authorities reported that the body of William Davis was found following a challenging three-day search operation. The effort involved helicopters, drones, and numerous ground personnel combing the well-visited New England summer spot.
“This is a heartbreaking conclusion to a difficult search endeavor. The Fish and Game Department extends its gratitude to all the volunteers and team members who worked diligently to reunite Davis with his family,” the department shared in a Facebook message.
Davis, of Jacksonville, Florida, reached the summit by way of the Mount Washington Cog Railway on Wednesday afternoon, the Fish and Game Department said in a news release Thursday. He was last seen near the visitor center around 3:20 p.m., after taking a photo with his wife. Soon after, he separated from her and walked toward the trail area alone.
Visitors tour a weather station on Mount Washington’s lower slopes in New Hampshire. (Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
Mount Washington is known for sudden weather changes, rocky terrain, and limited visibility, even in summer. Wind chills can dip below freezing without warning.
Although the summit is accessible by car and train, trails just beyond the visitor center can turn treacherous for anyone unfamiliar with mountain hiking. Dozens of rescues are conducted on the mountain each year.
At around 11 a.m. On Friday, AVSAR volunteers found Davis’s body about 400 feet off the Lion Head Trail. The location was between the Alpine Garden and Tuckerman Ravine Trails, both of which run through rocky and exposed terrain. Rescue officials said Davis appeared to have suffered a serious fall.
The Pinkham Notch Visitor Center is shown on a clear autumn day in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest. (Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
A Black Hawk helicopter crew from the New Hampshire Army National Guard was conducting a training mission nearby and was able to assist with the recovery efforts during a short break in the weather, officials said.
An autopsy is pending at the state medical examiner. Authorities have not determined how Davis ended up in the remote area where he was found.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for further comment.
