TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Authorities reported the death of a Florida man who took a train to the summit of Mt. Washington and then disappeared. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division relayed the information to WMUR.
Officials said they had been searching for 79-year-old William Davis of Jacksonville since Wednesday evening.
Fish and Game officials were alerted around 6 p.m. on Wednesday regarding Davis’s disappearance after riding the Cog Train to the summit of Mt. Washington.
Davis’ wife told authorities that her husband was last seen near the observation deck around 3:20 p.m.
His body was found on Friday near the southeast side of the summit, WMUR reported.
Officials told the news station that Davis and his wife took a photo at the visitor center sign and then Davis went on a trail.
It was reported that Davis communicated with a state park employee via phone, indicating he was off the trail. He managed to describe his surroundings before his phone’s battery died.
Fish and Game crews said they searched the area until 2 a.m. and resumed their search around 6 a.m.
“Really, all we know is he had no intention to hike, but for some reason, he went off on the hiking trails, and no one knows why,” Fish and Game Lt. Mark Ober Jr. told the news stations.
The news station reported that it is not clear how Davis died.
