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Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Final photo of Florida man, 79, who made frightened 911 call before dying on New Hampshire mountain
A final chilling photo has captured the smiling face of a Florida man at the summit of Mount Washington just moments before he vanished and made a frightened 911 call - only to be found dead just days later. William Davis, 79, had taken the historic Cog Railway up to the 6,288-foot peak on Wednesday when he mysteriously wandered off near the visitor center and never returned. He made a frightening 911 call and was later found dead by New Hampshire Fish and Game officials after a three-day search. Officials say Davis was not planning to hike and had no gear or preparation for the trails. After taking the phone, he unexpectedly left the designated area around 3pm. His wife became concerned when he didn't return and contacted New Hampshire State Parks. '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 local outlet WCAX. One official briefly reached Davis by phone for a moment. He appeared disoriented and said he was lost before the line went dead most likely because his phone had died. Rescuers launched a massive search with more than 50 officers who looked the surrounding terrain. But dangerous weather conditions Thursday night caused a halt to the search and forced crews to briefly suspend efforts. By Friday morning, a Blackhawk helicopter joined the operation along with more than 20 Fish and Game officers and volunteers who spread out across the mountain. Just after 11am, Davis' body was discovered on the steep and rocky southeastern slope near the summit. Officials believe he most likely fell from a step area. An official cause of death will be determined by the state medical examiner. Patrick Hummel, manager of Mount Washington State Park, told the outlet their entire team was shaken by the tragic outcome. 'This was an intensive one,' he said. 'And filled with a lot of unanswered questions that we still don't have and may not have answers to.' 'As far as Mr. Davis' thought process and even his tracking and where he went and how he ended up on the eastern side of Mount Washington,' Hummel continued. 'I'm just incredibly sorry about how the situation turned out.'
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Missing Florida man who wandered away at popular New England tourist destination found dead
A 79-year-old Florida man was found dead Friday morning after going missing from the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the state Fish and Game Department confirmed in a social media post. Officials said search crews had located the body of William Davis after a difficult three-day operation involving helicopters, drones and dozens of ground personnel atop the popular New England summer tourist destination. "It is a tragic end to a tough search mission and the Fish and Game Department would like to thank all the volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to bring Davis back to his family," the department said in a Facebook post. 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. Hiker's Wilderness Adventure Ends In Tragedy At Popular Park Destination At some point, Davis made brief contact with a state park employee by cellphone. He reported being off-trail and described his surroundings but could not explain his location. His phone died during the call. Search teams were notified shortly after 6 p.m. and began looking for him that evening. Read On The Fox News App Crews initially focused on the western side of the summit. Fish and Game officers, park staff, and volunteers from Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue used drones and ground teams to search the area into early Thursday morning. Fog and wind slowed progress, and no sign of Davis was found, according to officials. On Friday morning, search teams shifted their focus to the eastern and southern slopes of the mountain. Weather conditions had worsened. Rain, clouds, and high winds moved in. Temperatures hovered in the low 40s, and wind chill readings dropped to near freezing. Hiker Disappears In Wilderness After Taking 'Shortcut' That Leads To Voice From The Woods 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. 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 article source: Missing Florida man who wandered away at popular New England tourist destination found dead Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
18-07-2025
- CBS News
Florida man missing after taking train to summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire
Search teams are looking for a 79-year-old Florida man who went missing from the top of New Hampshire's Mount Washington after taking a train to the summit on Wednesday. William Davis of Jacksonville and his wife took the Cog Railway up the 6,288-foot mountain. He was last seen near the observation deck at about 3:20 p.m., according to his wife. "From there no one knows where he went," the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said in a statement. A Mount Washington State Park employee was able to reach Davis by phone on Wednesday, and it appeared he had gotten lost but wasn't very far from the summit. But authorities say an hour-long search did not locate Davis and he stopped answering his phone. Two dozen rescuers and a drone team searched until 2 a.m. and started again early the next morning. Deteriorating weather conditions suspended the search on Thursday night, but it resumed Friday morning. Temperatures on the summit Friday will be in the 40s, with winds gusting as high as 85 mph. The forecast on Saturday calls for a chance of rain and highs in the mid 50s. The Cog Railway brings more than 100,000 visitors to the summit of Mount Washington annually. It was founded in 1869 and was the first mountain-climbing railway in the world. The three-hour round trip via train offers riders a one-hour layover at summit, where people can visit an observation desk, museum and gift shops.
