HOLDERNESS, N.H. — A 64-year-old Massachusetts man passed away Saturday after collapsing while hiking in the Lakes Region, state officials reported.
Richard Chateauneuf, of Tyngsboro, Mass., was found unconscious along the Old Bridle Path trail on West Rattlesnake Mountain around 11:22 a.m., according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Bystanders immediately initiated CPR about three-quarters of a mile up from the trailhead before first responders arrived. Despite the combined effort of fellow hikers and emergency personnel, attempts to revive Chateauneuf were unsuccessful. Rescuers subsequently carried him down the mountain.
Emergency response teams from Holderness, Center Harbor, and Sandwich fire-rescue departments responded to the scene, assisted by Plymouth Ambulance and state conservation officers.
The cause of death has not yet been released. State officials used the tragedy to remind all outdoor enthusiasts to properly prepare before heading into the wilderness, including carrying essential items such as maps, extra food and water, first aid kits, and warm layers.
