A terrible hiking accident led to the death of Carolyn Sanger, a mother of four from Topsfield, Massachusetts. Sanger, 49, was hiking with family members, including three of her children, when she slipped or tripped and then fell 50-75 feet. The family was hiking in the Purgatory Chasm State Reservation when the accident occurred. Help came quickly, according to authorities, but Sanger’s injuries were too severe to save her life.
“There were multiple [medical] professionals in the area hiking the Chasm at the same time, and were able to provide medical attention right away,” said the Sutton Police Department in a statement posted yesterday to Facebook. “However, she had succumbed to the injuries sustained during the fall, and was pronounced deceased a short time later. This is currently an active investigation but does appear to be accidental.”
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Local news interviewed non-family members who knew Sanger, and they say she was a kind and helpful person who was active in her community. Her death is a tragic reminder about the risks we all face when hiking.
Learn more about the mother who fell to her death while hiking here: