close
close

Woman unconscious due to extreme heat rescued by bystanders in Death Valley

Woman unconscious due to extreme heat rescued by bystanders in Death Valley

DEATH VALLEY, California. – A woman was rescued after becoming lost and unconscious in Death Valley National Park on Thursday, where temperatures soared to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to park officials, she and a man had started hiking around Badlands Loop, a trail that takes up to two hours, at 9:30 a.m. local time.

The temperature had risen to about 43 degrees Celsius at that time.

The two reportedly got lost, which forced them to stay on the trail longer.

Eventually, the woman could no longer walk, the NPS said. The man then walked back to the trailhead at Zabriskie Point to get help, as there was no cell service in the area.

MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK AFTER RECORD TEMPERATURES RECORDED

A bystander at the trailhead parking lot who heard about the situation drove five miles to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center to report the emergency. By that point, temperatures had risen to about 115 degrees Fahrenheit, officials said.

When park rangers arrived at the trailhead, bystanders carried the sick woman to the parking lot.

She was placed in an NPS ambulance, where she was cooled. The ambulance then drove the woman to a landing zone at an altitude of 3,000 feet to meet an air ambulance.

The NPS noted that it was necessary to transport the woman to the helicopter landing site, rather than having the helicopter come to the parking lot, because some helicopters cannot operate in temperatures above 46 degrees Celsius.

A Mercy Air helicopter then flew the woman to Centennial Hills Hospital in Las Vegas.

HOW DO YOU WATCH FOX WEATHER?

Tips for Safe Hiking in Death Valley

Park officials offer the following advice to people visiting Death Valley National Park in the summer:

  • Know how much heat you can tolerate and get used to the warm environment.
  • Stay in air-conditioned areas or within a 10-minute walk of them.
  • At low altitudes, where temperatures are usually highest, only walk before 10am
  • Travel only on paved roads. If necessary, your vehicle can provide protection from the heat and make you easier to find by park rangers.
  • Seek shade when temperatures are highest during the day.
  • Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat and using an umbrella.
  • Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking enough water.
  • Maintain your electrolyte levels by eating salty snacks.

Earlier this month, Death Valley National Park reached 128 degrees. The California park holds a record heat of 134 degrees.