A missing 72-year-old woman who got lost while hiking and was found collapsed near the body of her deceased husband in a Maine forest was found dead with her owner's faithful dog resting on her chest. Miraculously, he survived four nights by sleeping to keep warm.
Pamela Helmstadter was rescued Thursday in the woods in Alexander, Washington County. Days after she and her 82-year-old husband, John Helmstadter, veered off course and became disoriented during a walk. WMTW reported.
She was found about 200 meters from her husband's body, and Lucy, a black researcher, was still trying to ensure her safety, officials said.
“When the K-12 team found her, her dog was very protective of her and even lay on her chest,” said Maine Warden Service Sgt. . Josh Beal said of Lucy:
“It appears the dog does this to keep warm at night,” he continued, adding that the dog may have saved its owner's life.
Officials said Helmstadter endured a night of rain and temperatures of -28 degrees Celsius, and was suffering from severe hypothermia when searchers found him.
Her husband's body was found about 200 meters away from her, but it was not immediately clear when he died.
The tragedy unfolded after Ms. Helmstadter's husband decided to go off the road and at one point fell and was unable to turn back.
Helmstadter, who forgot his cell phone at home, chose to go and get help, but ended up getting lost and unable to find his way home, authorities said.
“She was more physically able than he was, so they made the decision that he would stay put and she would try to get out and get help,” Beal said.
Search crews had been scouring the woods after a wary neighbor noticed the couple had left a package on their doorstep.
Later, one of the couple's two dogs returned home alone, and a neighbor called the police.
Helmstadter later told authorities that he had given up hope of being found alive until he suddenly heard a search helicopter repeatedly flying overhead hours before he was found.
Authorities said his wife had a body temperature of just 90.7 degrees when she was found and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
