02 Oct

At 2116 hrs, while a thunderstorm moved through the area, DFD was called to search for a distraught male person, believed to be located in the College Woods area of the University of NH.  Due to the area of search, station coverage was requested for manpower and a special call to Lee and Madbury Fire Departments were requested for manpower and equipment.  Police agencies including NH State Police, Durham PD and UNH PD also provided manpower at the scene. 

College Woods, a 250 acre tract of land owned by UNH, is flanked on all sides by secondary roads or other parcels of land which are flanked by roads and has several points of entry.  It is well known to locals and UNH students alike and serves as a recreation area frequented by mountain bikers and hikers and also hosts many instructional uses.  While the terrain is mostly flat well traveled trails, the search for the individual was hampered by rain and darkness.  Reports to responders that the individual was in contact with a person via cell phone and was apparenlty laying down in the woods to avoid being found proved the search to be fruitless after more than six hours.   Fire Department members, a few hours after clearing the search scene however, were called for a report of a hypothermic person found on the side of the road several miles from College Woods.  The male subject, matching the description of the distraught person, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  Police agencies continue to investigate. 

This was the second search in less than a month in College Woods, previously, two residents became lost in the dark and were found a short time after calling 911 in the area of Spruce Wood, a property abutting College Woods