Alaska News

Searchers locate couple lost in frigid cold near Cantwell

Searchers located a couple near Cantwell early Wednesday after a family member reported the husband and wife missing in subzero temperatures, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Scott Mayo, 47, went out to check his trap line near Mile 105 on the Denali Highway, troopers reported. When he did not return to the cabin, his wife, Vivian Mayo, 56, left to seek help, troopers said. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said she did not know when the Mayos set out from the cabin.

A family member called troopers around 10:15 p.m. when neither Mayo checked in.

An Alaska wildlife trooper on a snowmachine found the woman about a mile from the cabin, troopers said. The temperature had dipped to 20 degrees below zero. She was suffering from extreme hypothermia and was transported back to the cabin, troopers reported around 1 a.m.

The search continued for Scott Mayo.

Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, which launched an Alaska Air National Guard Pave Hawk helicopter and C-130 aircraft. By 2:45 a.m., a trooper said he had found Mayo's trail. The C-130 crew located Mayo by a small campfire around 5:13 a.m. and the helicopter crew retrieved him, troopers said.

Troopers said both Mayos were transported by helicopter to an Anchorage hospital.

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Reach Tegan Hanlon at thanlon@adn.com or 257-4589.

By TEGAN HANLON

thanlon@adn.com

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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