Off-the-grid hermit ‘River Dave’ grateful for help after fire ravages home

David Lidstone, 81, had been squatting at the wooded property in New Hampshire for 27 years.

An off-the-grid hermit known to locals as River Dave, whose cabin burned down on the wooded property in the US where he was squatting for 27 years, has said he is grateful and overwhelmed by fundraising efforts and offers of a place to live.

“I feel about as good as I ever have in my life,” David Lidstone said in an interview with the Associated Press, saying he has many friends.

The 81-year-old added: “I live down there in the woods because I like being alone, being away from people, so this publicity is not anything that I’m used to at all.”

Mr Lidstone lived in the woods along the Merrimack River in the New Hampshire town of Canterbury.

The shack that David Lidstone, 81, had built and lived in for nearly three decades in the woods of Canterbury, New Hampshire — The shack that David Lidstone had built and lived in for nearly three decades in the woods of Canterbury, New Hampshire (Jodie Gedeon via AP)

The property owner, 86-year-old Leonard Giles, wanted Mr Lidstone off the property.

A fire destroyed the cabin on Wednesday, hours after Mr Lidstone defended himself during a court hearing.

He was released on Thursday from jail after a judge ruled that he would have less incentive to return to “this particular place in the woods” now that the cabin had burned down.

Smoke rises from the burnt remains of a cabin in Canterbury, New Hampshire, inhabited by 81-year-old David Lidstone — Smoke rises from the burnt remains of the cabin inhabited by David Lidstone (Canterbury Fire Department via AP)

Mr Lidstone, who is currently staying with friends, said he tried to go back to the site to collect some things, but was told he had to go to police first.

“The main thing I wanted out of the whole thing was my Bible,” he said.

“Hopefully, Canterbury police took it home. … I had the keys to camp and the camp’s just ashes. So I have the keys to God’s heart, and that’s all I got.”

The shack that David Lidstone, 81, has built and lived in for nearly three decades in the woods of Canterbury, New Hampshire — David Lidstone lived in the shack for decades (Jodie Gedeon via AP)

But it was hidden by the trees – it is on 73 acres that have been used for timber harvests.

The property has been owned by the same family since 1963.

There are no plans at this time to develop it.

Mr Lidstone had said a prior owner gave his word years ago that he could live there, but had nothing in writing.

“It looks to me like now I may never set foot on that piece of land again,” he said.

Still, he wants to be able to prove he was right, and wants to get a surveyor on the property.

Another hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Jodie Gedeon, an avid kayaker and advocate for Mr Lidstone, said there has been discussion of setting up a trust for him, in addition to finding him a home.

David Lidstone, 81, who for nearly three decades has lived in the woods of Canterbury, New Hampshire, along the Merrimack River — David Lidstone, who for nearly three decades has lived in the woods along the Merrimack River (Jodie Gedeon via AP)

“So, it’s really up to David now,” she said.

“David, pick where you want to live, and we will get you set up before winter.”