Demise Valley hiker was interviewed about blistering warmth hours earlier than his demise: ‘The whole lot is sizzling right here’

A 71-year-old man mountain climbing Demise Valley Nationwide Park on Tuesday was interviewed concerning the sweltering temperatures gripping the area hours earlier than his suspected heat-related demise.

Steve Curry, of Los Angeles, handed out Tuesday afternoon whereas visiting Demise Valley Nationwide Park in California the place temperatures reached 120 levels, the National Park Service and sheriff officials said.

Curry collapsed outdoors a restroom at Golden Canyon trailhead earlier than 3:45 p.m. He was pronounced lifeless on the scene regardless of first responders giving him CPR and utilizing an automatic exterior defibrillator, officers mentioned.

The Inyo County Coroner’s Workplace has but to find out a reason behind demise, however park rangers imagine warmth was an element.

Hours earlier than he died, Curry spoke to the Los Angeles Times concerning the punishing climate situations, noting “it’s a dry warmth.”

He additionally mentioned “all the pieces is sizzling right here” and was pictured with loads of sunscreen and a solar hat hiding beneath a metallic interpretative signal that provided some shade.

Curry hiked from Golden Canyon to Zabrieski Level early Tuesday morning, the newspaper reported.

His demise was considered one of three fatalities at separate nationwide parks this week as tragedies proceed to be a part of a lethal summer time on the federal grounds.

Whereas the official temperature was about 121 levels at close by Furnace Creek across the time of his demise, precise temperatures inside Golden Canyon have been doubtless a lot hotter as a result of canyon partitions radiate the solar’s blistering warmth.

“Based on the Nationwide Climate Service, Demise Valley has skilled 28 days of temperatures in extra of 110 levels this 12 months,” the Nationwide Park Service mentioned. “Warmth stroke units in when the physique’s core temperature rises above 104 levels.”

The day earlier than, a 51-year-old Louisiana man was discovered unresponsive by different hikers in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park in Colorado a couple of mile from the Mount Ida Trailhead, officers mentioned.

The guests who discovered him carried out CPR on him, after which park rangers additionally tried to resuscitate the person, the park service said.

The person was later pronounced lifeless. The reason for demise has not but been decided.

 “As is customary protocol the incident is beneath investigation,” the park service mentioned.

Additionally on Monday, 15-year-old boy died at Kenai Fjords Nationwide Park in Alaska, officials said.

Bystanders and first responders tried to revive him close to Harding Icefield Path, however the teen didn’t survive. A probe into his demise is underway. 

The three current deaths are amongst a number of at nationwide parks this summer time, together with earlier fatalities at Demise Valley and Rocky Mountain parks.

A 65-year-old parkgoer in Demise Valley Nationwide Park was discovered dead inside his vehicle with two flat tires amid unforgiving warmth in early July. The San Diego man was driving in a sedan that didn’t have working air-con earlier than he handed out.

A 26-year-old Colorado girl plunged 500 feet to her death whereas free-solo climbing 4 Aces of Blitzen Ridge at Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park earlier this month.

The adventurous climber, recognized as Bailee Mulholland, was remembered as “a force to be reckoned with” by friends.

Per week earlier than Mulholland’s deadly climbing journey, 24-year-old Las Vegas man Luis Monteiro was killed when he fell off the edge of a waterfall at Rocky Mountain and was sucked underwater. His reason behind demise was drowning.

Different nationwide park tragedies embody a 57-year-old girl who died while hiking in brutal heat on the Grand Canyon this month and a Florida father and teenage stepson who both died whereas visiting Large Bend Nationwide Park in Texas final month.