A 14-year-old boy died after hiking with his stepfather and brother in extreme heat at Big Bend National Park in Texas on Friday. The stepfather died in a car crash after he hiked back to their vehicle to seek help, officials said.
The park\u2019s communications center received a call at around 6 p.m. local time requesting emergency assistance along the Marufo Vega Trail, park officials said in a news release Saturday.
\u201cA team of Park Rangers and U.S. Border Patrol Agents reached the scene at approximately 7:30 p.m. and located the young victim deceased along the trail,\u201d park officials said. \u201cA search was then initiated for the father.\u201d
\u201cTemperatures at the time were 119 (degrees),\u201d park officials said in the release.
The 14-year-old boy fell ill along the trail and lost consciousness, park officials said. His stepfather, 31, hiked back to their vehicle to find help while the brother, 21, tried to carry his brother back to the trailhead.
\u201cThe Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs within the hottest part of Big Bend National Park,\u201d park officials said. \u201cNo shade or water makes this strenuous trail dangerous to attempt in the heat of summer.\u201d
Big Bend is experiencing extreme heat with highs reaching 110-119 degrees at low elevations and along the Rio Grande, park officials said.
The incident is under investigation and no further details were given, including the names of the two victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n