The Maine Warden Service has shared photos with Maine’s Total Coverage showing the rescue of a Washington County woman who was missing for four days after her husband was injured during a walk in the woods.See the story in the video abovePamela and John Helmstadter, of Alexander, Maine, went for a walk with their dogs Sunday on the network of trails behind their home. The couple had gotten off one of the trails during their walk, and that is when John fell and was unable to get up.The couple did not have cellphones with them, so Pamela went to get help. She got disoriented in the woods and could not get home.”She was more physically capable than he was, and they made the decision for him to stay put and her to go out and find help,” said Maine Warden Service Sgt. Josh Beal.Officials said a neighbor who checks on the Helmstadters spotted a package on their porch and brought it inside their house on Tuesday. That neighbor then called the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday when he saw the package was still in the same place where he had put it in the couple’s home. The neighbor also noticed one of the couple’s dogs had returned to the house, but there was no sign of Pamela, John and their other dog.Game wardens and Washington County sheriff’s deputies began their search for the missing couple Wednesday night, and they were joined by members of the Maine Forest Service and Maine Search and Rescue dogs.At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Game Warden Jake Voter and Warden Service K-9 Koda located Pamela in a forested area that was more than a mile from the couple’s home.Meanwhile, John was found dead a half-hour later. The 82-year-old was located approximately 200 yards away from his wife.Officials said Pamela was severely hypothermic when she was found, but she was alert and had her dog by her side.”When the K-9 team located her, her dog was being very protective of her and even laid down on top of her on her chest,” Beal said. “It sounds like that’s what the dog would do at night as well to help keep her warm.”Pamela’s body temperature was just 90.7 degrees when she was found, but the 72-year-old was able to tell rescue crews what had happened.”It rained all day Monday. We had cooler temperatures. Wednesday night, it was 27 to 28 degrees. She did very well to survive for that long,” Beal said.Pamela was transported to Calais Community Hospital by Downeast Emergency Medical Services personnel following the rescue. Beal said Pamela was warming up at the hospital as of Thursday afternoon.Pamela told authorities that she had given up hope of being found, but she received newfound hope when she heard the Warden Service’s airplane circling over her five different times on Thursday.Editor’s note: The Maine Warden Service requested that Maine’s Total Coverage blur Pamela Helmstadter’s face in one of the photos shared by the agency.Previous coverage:
The Maine Warden Service has shared photos with Maine’s Total Coverage showing the rescue of a Washington County woman who was missing for four days after her husband was injured during a walk in the woods.
See the story in the video above
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Pamela and John Helmstadter, of Alexander, Maine, went for a walk with their dogs Sunday on the network of trails behind their home. The couple had gotten off one of the trails during their walk, and that is when John fell and was unable to get up.
The couple did not have cellphones with them, so Pamela went to get help. She got disoriented in the woods and could not get home.
“She was more physically capable than he was, and they made the decision for him to stay put and her to go out and find help,” said Maine Warden Service Sgt. Josh Beal.
Officials said a neighbor who checks on the Helmstadters spotted a package on their porch and brought it inside their house on Tuesday. That neighbor then called the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday when he saw the package was still in the same place where he had put it in the couple’s home. The neighbor also noticed one of the couple’s dogs had returned to the house, but there was no sign of Pamela, John and their other dog.
Game wardens and Washington County sheriff’s deputies began their search for the missing couple Wednesday night, and they were joined by members of the Maine Forest Service and Maine Search and Rescue dogs.
At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Game Warden Jake Voter and Warden Service K-9 Koda located Pamela in a forested area that was more than a mile from the couple’s home.
Meanwhile, John was found dead a half-hour later. The 82-year-old was located approximately 200 yards away from his wife.
Officials said Pamela was severely hypothermic when she was found, but she was alert and had her dog by her side.
“When the K-9 team located her, her dog was being very protective of her and even laid down on top of her on her chest,” Beal said. “It sounds like that’s what the dog would do at night as well to help keep her warm.”
Pamela’s body temperature was just 90.7 degrees when she was found, but the 72-year-old was able to tell rescue crews what had happened.
“It rained all day Monday. We had cooler temperatures. Wednesday night, it was 27 to 28 degrees. She did very well to survive for that long,” Beal said.
Pamela was transported to Calais Community Hospital by Downeast Emergency Medical Services personnel following the rescue. Beal said Pamela was warming up at the hospital as of Thursday afternoon.
Pamela told authorities that she had given up hope of being found, but she received newfound hope when she heard the Warden Service’s airplane circling over her five different times on Thursday.
Editor’s note: The Maine Warden Service requested that Maine’s Total Coverage blur Pamela Helmstadter’s face in one of the photos shared by the agency.
Previous coverage:
