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Xi Chen, age 53, was attempting a Presidential Traverse off Gulfside Trail near Mt. Clay when he was "overcome with severe weather conditions," New Hampshire Fish & Game said on Facebook.
Chen's wife, Lian Liu, alerted crews her husband needed help around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 19. Chen apparently told Liu that he was "cold and wet and could not continue," another post from NH Fish & Game read. He also said that if he was not rescued, he would die.
"If I stop moving then in trouble," Chen apparently said to his wife via text message just before 4:30 p.m., Boston25 reports.
"When will I get there if you take a guess," she replied.
One of the last things Chen said was, “In trouble can’t move," the outlet reports.
"Rescuers endured driving rain, blowing snow and sustained 50-60 mph winds with gusts over 80 mph," to reach Chen, NH Fish & Game said. They did not find him until 10:38 p.m.
By that time, Chen was in a "highly hypothermic state," NH Fish & Game said. He was later taken to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin where he was pronounced dead.
The below video shows crews bracing the extreme weather to make the rescue
NH Fish & Game used the incident to remind potential hikers about the dangers associated with hiking in the White Mountains saying, "Sometimes having enough gear is not enough."
"In weather conditions experienced this weekend it is better to descend and get out of the wind and cold instead of pushing on until it is too late," the organization continued.
Meanwhile, Liu is mourning her husband's death while remembering him as someone who loved his family, job and life.
"He's not a quitter, that probably actually got him into trouble this time," Liu said in an interview with NBC Boston. "He had so many plans ahead of him...Unfortunately this happened."
A GoFundMe has since been organized in Chen's honor to support his wife and the three kids he left behind.
The campaign had raised more than $19,800 of its $50,000 goal as of Tuesday, June 21. People can donate to the GoFundMe by clicking here.
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