PISCATAQUIS COUNTY, Maine — Emergency crews on Sunday rescued a hiker who broke his ankle while hiking with friends on a remote trail network in northern Maine.
Joshua Steele, 38, of Waterville was hiking the Rim Trail near the Jaws Waterfall in Gulf Hagas with some friends when he slipped on a rock and broke his ankle, the Maine Warden Service said in a release Wednesday.
One of the members of Steele's group hiked out of the woods and called for help from the North Maine Woods gatehouse in KI Township, according to the release. Wardens responded, along with the Greenville Fire Department and several volunteers from the Appalachian Mountain Club.
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It was dark by the time rescuers reached Steele. Medical personnel stabilized the injury, and crews placed Steele in a rescue sled and then carried him over rugged terrain for about two miles to a waiting ATV, the release stated. He was then transported by a warden ATV for the last mile out of the woods to a waiting ambulance. The ambulance took him to Northern Light C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville for treatment.
The rescue took about 12 hours in total, officials said. The call for help came in around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, and Steele reached the ambulance around 4:30 a.m. Monday, according to the release.