State Police rescue hiker lost on Tekoa Mountain
WESTFIELD (WWLP) – Massachusetts State Police and local emergency services personnel rescued a lost hiker hours after she was reported missing on Tekoa Mountain near the Russell/Westfield town line Tuesday afternoon.
State Police Sgt. Tom Ryan said the East Longmeadow woman “was OK due to a valiant effort of all involved in the search and rescue.”
Ryan said the woman lost her way on the mountain at bout 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, and called 911 from her mobile phone.
Members of the Huntington Police Department and Russell Fire Department set up a command post off Route 20 at the Old Strathmore Paper Mill.
The state police helicopter located the lost hiker on the mountain at about 5 p.m. and directed emergency personnel to her location.
Rescuers initially had trouble reaching her because of the rough terrain.
“MSP troopers and members of the Russel Fire Department assisted the woman down the mountain while the helicopter provided necessary lighting from above so they could traverse the rough terrain in the darkness, Ryan said.
The hiker was not injured, and all made it safely off the mountain.
