WYMAN TOWNSHIP — A hiker from London, England, was rescued early Friday from the West Peak of Bigelow Mountain after she broke her ankle, the Maine Warden Service said.

Jennifer Custer, 38, was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington for treatment, Warden Service Sgt. Scott Thrasher said in a news release.

The Warden Service was notified by the International Emergency Response Coordination Center in Houston, Texas, at about 5 p.m. Thursday that it had received an emergency message from a satellite messaging device, which Custer activated after injuring her ankle.

The Maine Warden Service organized a team consisting of a game warden, an emergency medical technician from NorthStar EMS ambulance, a Eustis Fire Rescue Department member and a volunteer from the Franklin County Search and Rescue team. They reached Custer around midnight.

A Maine Forest Service helicopter from Old Town landed at at the 4,145-foot West Peak about 8:15 a.m. Friday and flew Custer to an ambulance at the Sugarloaf Regional Airport in Carrabassett Valley. From there she was taken to the Farmington hospital.

Emergency responders carry Jennifer Custer, 38, of London, England up West Peak on Bigelow Mountain in Wyman Township on Friday morning after she broke her ankle hiking. She was flown by helicopter to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington. (Maine Warden Service photo)

Rescuers set up a shelter for Jennifer Custer, 38, of London, England early Friday morning on Bigelow Mountain in Wyman Township. Custer broke her ankle while hiking and was flown to a Farmington hospital. (Maine Warden Service Photo)


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