05-14-2008, 11:10 AM
CONCORD, N.H. -- In a tragic accident, Shu Qin, age 28, a woman hiker from Shanghai, China, was killed after being hit by a boulder on the Falling Waters Trail in Franconia Notch in New Hampshire's White Mountains on Thursday, May 8, 2008. Qin had been staying with friends in Wellesley, Mass. She was hiking with her husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law on the trail, which passes three waterfalls and leads to Little Haystack Mountain.
<br>Qin and her brother-in-law were ahead of the other two hikers and had reached the third waterfall, Cloudland Falls, about 1.5 miles up the trail, at 2:30 p.m. yesterday. A large rock broke loose from the waterfall and struck and killed Qin, who was on the trail.<br>
<br>The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified about 3:45 p.m. A member of the hiking party had hiked to the trailhead to make the emergency call. Fish and Game Conservation Officers responded to the scene, assisted by members of Pemigewasset Valley Search & Rescue and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Qin was carried out and transported by ambulance to Littleton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.<br>
<br>The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team (DHART) also assisted in the effort.<br>
<br>"This was a tragic and unfortunate accident - a most unlikely thing to happen," said Lt. Todd Bogardus, Fish and Game Search and Rescue Team Leader. "Our deepest sympathy goes out to this young woman's grieving family and friends."<br>
<br>No further information is available at this time.
<br>Qin and her brother-in-law were ahead of the other two hikers and had reached the third waterfall, Cloudland Falls, about 1.5 miles up the trail, at 2:30 p.m. yesterday. A large rock broke loose from the waterfall and struck and killed Qin, who was on the trail.<br>
<br>The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was notified about 3:45 p.m. A member of the hiking party had hiked to the trailhead to make the emergency call. Fish and Game Conservation Officers responded to the scene, assisted by members of Pemigewasset Valley Search & Rescue and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Qin was carried out and transported by ambulance to Littleton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.<br>
<br>The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team (DHART) also assisted in the effort.<br>
<br>"This was a tragic and unfortunate accident - a most unlikely thing to happen," said Lt. Todd Bogardus, Fish and Game Search and Rescue Team Leader. "Our deepest sympathy goes out to this young woman's grieving family and friends."<br>
<br>No further information is available at this time.