A missing juvenile hiker was found safe in Jaffrey after about eight hours of searching by multiple police and fire departments from New Hampshire and Massachusetts on Sunday evening.
The search took place in the Mount Watatic area on either side of the state border. In the end, Jaffrey Officer Jaminson Bernier found the hiker walking down Main Street near Memorial Park after the department received dispatch about the missing juvenile at approximately 8:40 p.m., according to Bernier’s log entry. Bernier cleared the call at approximately 9:48 p.m.
Fish and Game Conservation officers confirmed the hiker was lost while hiking on a trail. The log entry states that officers returned the hiker to his parents after interviewing him.
Ashburnham, Mass., police and fire departments led the search with drone teams, according to their Facebook post. Ashburnham officials could not be reached immediately for comment.
During the search, the Rindge Police Department posted on Facebook warning of heavy police and fire crew presence on the east side of Rindge. A helicopter flew overhead in Massachusetts.
Mutual aid included Rindge Fire, New Ipswich Fire, NH Fish and Game, the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, the Massachusetts District 8 Regional Search and Rescue Team, the Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit, the Gardner K-9 Unit and Ashby Search and Rescue.
The Ashburnham Police Department reminded hikers on social media to be cautious, even in good weather.