Bellows Falls Woman Rescued from Fall Mountain NH After Suffering from Heat-Related Illness

Shortly after making a call to a family member for help, her phone battery died.

WALPOLE, N.H. – A Vermont woman was rescued from Fall Mountain on Tuesday evening after becoming disoriented and suffering from symptoms of a heat-related illness while hiking, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Rebeka Arias, 33, of Bellows Falls, was hiking to a popular overlook on July 15 when she became lost. At approximately 5 p.m., a third party notified conservation officers that Arias was feeling faint and nauseous. Shortly after making a call to a family member for help, her phone battery died.

A multi-agency search and rescue effort was launched, involving crews from the Walpole Police Department, North Walpole Fire Department, Golden Cross Ambulance Service, and three New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers.

After a nearly two-hour search, a conservation officer patrolling the trails on an ATV located Arias. She was then assisted down the mountain to a North Walpole Fire Department UTV and transported to a waiting ambulance. Arias was taken to Springfield Hospital in Vermont for evaluation.

Officials emphasized that this incident serves as a critical reminder for hikers to be prepared, especially when hiking in extreme heat. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department urges all hikers to carefully plan their excursions, be aware of forecasted weather conditions, and carry essential safety equipment.

Credit for the information was provided by the NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief.