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Mass. Woman Dies After Mountain Rescue

Man, Wife Suffered Hypothermia After 2 Nights

POSTED: 1:36 pm EST March 23, 2004
UPDATED: 12:32 pm EST March 24, 2004

A Massachusetts woman died shortly after she and her husband were rescued from a New Hampshire mountain, where they spent two nights in subzero temperatures and a snowstorm.

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NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported that Russell and Brenda Cox, of Andover, were avid hikers but a weekend day trip to New Hampshire's Mt. Lafayette ended in tragedy.

Crews rescued the couple, who were both suffering from hypothermia, Tuesday morning.

"The conditions that were present this weekend were high winds and were severe," said New Hampshire Fish and Game Lt. Todd Bogardus.

The couple became caught in a sudden snowstorm and wind-chill dropped to nearly 60 degrees below zero.

Helicopters airlifted the couple off the mountain Tuesday morning. Brenda Cox, suffering from advanced hypothermia, was pronounced dead at Littleton Hospital.

Neighbors in the couple's Andover neighborhood say they were a friendly and active couple.

"I just noticed a lot that their Subaru station wagon was frequently packed with a kayak, camping gear, things like that. They were an active couple," said neighbor Judy Wakefield.

"I remember when I got locked out of my house last year on Christmas Eve, they were getting ready to pack up for a trip, I think to Aruba or one of the islands," said neighbor Laura Valentino.

Russell Cox was airlifted from Littleton Hospital to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for treatment where he is listed in good condition.

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