Two Long Island hikers rescued from Slide Mountain

Two stranded hikers were rescued from Slide Mountain on Sunday after the pair spent an unplanned night outdoors.

At 5:48am on Sunday, according to a New York State Police press release, troopers in Kingston received a 911 call from Ulster County about two stranded hikers. Michael Lelezi and Erin McKinstry, both of Huntington, NY, were found later that day by a search detail that included state troopers and rangers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The two were suffering from exposure, although they had been provided warmer clothes and shelter by more experienced hikers that they had met during the night.

Conditions prevented a helicopter rescue. The searchers gave Lelezi and McKinstry food and dry clothes, and helped them to get warm, before escorting them back down the mountain.

Lelezi and McKinstry were evaluated by EMTs from the Shandaken Ambulance Service and released without further medical treatment. Police said that the help the pair got from more experienced hikers, as well as that provided by the rescuers, prevented "a more serious outcome" to the incident.

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