Texas man on trip to spread father’s ashes dies of heat stroke in Utah’s Arches National Park

SALT LAKE CITY — A Texas man whose physique was present in Utah’s Arches Nationwide Park is believed to have died of warmth stroke whereas on a visit to unfold his father’s ashes, in keeping with his sister.

James Bernard Hendricks, 66 of Austin, was climbing within the park and certain turned disoriented from a mixture of warmth, dehydration and excessive altitude, in keeping with sister Ruth Hendricks Bough.

Hendricks had stopped in Utah whereas journeying throughout the West to the Sierra Nevada area of Nevada and California to unfold his father’s ashes, he stated in social media posts previous to his dying.

Rangers discovered his automobile at a trailhead car parking zone after Hendricks was reported overdue the morning of Aug 1, in keeping with park officers. Hendrick’s physique was discovered close by off-trail and his water bottle was empty, Bough stated in a social media put up.

“He was cherished by numerous individuals as a result of he was an unusually form, candy one that made pals simply. Now all these persons are grieving. It was a horrible shock,” the sister informed the San Antonio Specific-Information.

The Nationwide Park Service and Grand County Sheriff’s Workplace are investigating the dying.

Arches Nationwide Park, situated in a high-elevation desert north of Moab, Utah, is thought for its pure sandstone arches.

Temperatures topped 90 levels Fahrenheit (32 levels Celsius) within the space on the afternoon earlier than Hendricks was reported lacking.