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Massachusetts Woman Lost - And Found - Near Pittsburg

A Massachusetts woman who became lost near Pittsburg was rescued last night, according to a news release from New Hampshire Fish and Game.

The woman, Sharon Matthews, 49, of Warwick, Mass., was reported missing about 4:30 Sunday by her  husband after she failed to return from a hike to look for moose antlers.

About 8 p.m. a plume of smoke in South Bay Bog was spotted by Conservation Officers Chris Egan, Adam Cheney and Pittsburg Police Chief Richard LaPoint.

Matthews was reached about 40 minutes later sitting next to a fire with her dog at her side.

She told officials the batteries on her global positioning system died and she became disoriented.

 “Mrs. Matthews did what anyone should do in a similar situation. When she realized darkness and rain were beginning to fall, she remained calm, collected firewood, built a fire, used her rain jacket for shelter and stayed put in that one location,” Egan said.

Her equipment included water, food, a rain jacket, flashlight and a lighter. The lighter turned out to be most important since it was smoke from the fire that led to her location, Egan said.

Egan said the problem with the GPS highlights the need for hikers to also carry a compass.

 

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