A man from Florida and his stepson died of extreme heat while hiking at the Big Bend National Park in Texas.
A scenery at night along the trails inside the Big Bend National Park (Photo: Texas Hotel & Lodging Association)
Teen And His Stepfather Found Dead Due To Extreme Heat While Hiking
Last Saturday, with temperatures reaching up to 119 degrees Fahrenheit, a 14-year-old boy went ill along the trail of Marufo Vega. According to the National Park Service, the boy passed out around 6 p.m. last Friday. His 31-year-old stepfather started hiking back to their car in the hopes of getting help. The teen was carried back by the man’s other stepson towards the trailhead. The teen died along the trail around 7:30 p.m. when the U.S Border Patrol and Park Rangers arrived at the scene.
A search was initiated by officials to look for the stepfather. Officials later found his crashed car near the embankment located at the Boquillas Overlook. The stepfather was pronounced dead on the spot. The identities of the victims were not yet revealed to the public.
The National Park Service warns hikers that the trail is “extremely rugged”. There is no source of water along the trail and during summertime, the terrain usually experiences heat of up to 110-119 degrees Fahrenheit.
Last Saturday, an advisory was sent out warning hikers of the extreme heat, especially in the desert areas of the park. A “hikers should be OFF TRAILS in the afternoon” sign was put up and hikers were also advised to stay hydrated and limit their stay under the heat.
