Tragedy as a 14-year-old boy dies while hiking in “extreme heat” in Texas National Park and his stepfather dies in a car accident while desperately trying to find help
- The unnamed 14-year-old died while hiking at temperatures of up to 119 degrees
- The teenager fell ill and passed out while hiking in Big Bend National Park
- The stepfather crashed his car while driving around to get help
A family hike ended in tragedy when a Florida man and his 14-year-old stepson died during a heatwave in West Texas’ Big Bend National Park.
According to authorities, the 31-year-old man hiked the Marufo Vega Trail with his two stepsons, aged 14 and 21, on Friday.
Temperatures then hovered around 119 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Park Service said in a statement, as an extreme heat wave pushed daily highs to over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
The 14-year-old fell ill during the hike and lost consciousness. His stepfather rushed to get help but crashed his car and died.
A Florida man and his 14-year-old stepson died after hiking in extreme heat in Big Bend National Park in west Texas. The stepfather died after suffering a car accident while desperately trying to find help
His stepfather hiked back to his vehicle while the boy’s older brother tried to carry the teenager back to the trailhead, according to park officials.
The park includes the largest expanse of roadless public space in Texas, making parts of it difficult to access.
Authorities were first notified of the emergency around 6 p.m. local time on Friday.
A team of park rangers and US Border Patrol agents arrived at the scene at 7:30 p.m. and found the 14-year-old dead.
Authorities began searching for the father and found around 8pm that his vehicle had overturned an embankment at Boquillas lookout.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, the park administration said.
The names of the two victims were not immediately released by the authorities and the causes of death were not immediately known.
“The Marufo Vega Trail meanders through extremely harsh desert and rocky cliffs in the hottest part of Big Bend National Park.”
According to authorities, the 31-year-old man hiked the Marufo Vega Trail with his two stepsons, aged 14 and 21, on Friday
Temperatures at the time were 119 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Park Service said in a statement
The park includes the largest expanse of roadless public space in Texas, making parts of it difficult to access
“Because there is no shade or water, this strenuous trail is dangerous in the summer heat,” the park service said in a press release.
In March, a 64-year-old woman collapsed while hiking the Hot Springs Canyon Trail and died in temperatures of 86 degrees in part of the park.
The National Parks Service describes Big Bend as a hiker’s paradise. The reserve offers hikers more than 150 miles of trails suitable for day hikes or backpacking.
Visit the park’s website for top tips on how to stay safe in the heat, which is said to be at its worst during the summer months.
Visitors are also advised to let someone know where they are going before venturing into the sprawling reserve.