ALEXANDER, Maine (WMTW) – A 72-year-old Maine woman was rescued after spending four nights in the woods where she and her 82-year-old husband became lost while walking their dogs. Rescuers also found her husband’s body.
Pamela Helmstadter, 72, was rescued Thursday after spending four nights in the woods in Washington County, Maine. Her tragedy began on Sunday when she and her husband, 82-year-old John Helmstadter, were out walking their two dogs and eventually got lost. Unfortunately, he died as a result of the incident.
Rangers say the pair strayed off the trail while walking and that’s when John Helmstadter fell and was unable to get up. Neither of them had a cell phone, so Pamela Helmstadter went for help. She became confused and couldn’t find her way home.
“She was more physically fit than he was, so they made the decision that he should stay put and she should try to get out and find help,” said Sgt. Josh Beal of the Maine Ranger Service.
Officials say both Helmstadts could have been killed if not for an observant neighbor who alerted police on Wednesday about a package left on the couple’s porch. The neighbor thought it was strange that the package was still there a day later, and even stranger when one of the couple’s dogs returned home but there was no sign of him.
The search for the missing couple began that night.
Pamela Helmstadter says she had given up hope that they would find her until she heard search planes flying overhead five times on Thursday. Officials say the 72-year-old woman was severely hypothermic when she was found around 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.
John Helmstadter’s body was found about 200 meters from his wife.
Beal says the couple’s dog may have saved Pamela Helmstadter’s life during the rain and freezing temperatures. When she was found, her body temperature was only 30.7 degrees.
“When the K-9 team located her, her dog was very protective of her and even laid on her chest. It appears the dog also did this at night to keep warm, Beal said.
According to Beal, the 72-year-old woman was recovering at the hospital after receiving treatment.
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