Alaska teen who collapsed on Arizona hike dies

[Jeffshadows]

Alaska teen who collapsed on Arizona hike dies
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.20.2009

PHOENIX — An Alaska teen has died after passing out during a hike at Phoenix’s South Mountain Preserve.
Phoenix fire officials say the 14-year-old and his family ran out of water during their more than four-hour hike amid triple-digit heat Sunday.
Fire Capt. Alex Rangel says the teen started acting confused, walked off a trail and then lost consciousness.
By the time firefighters reached him a half hour later, the teen was not breathing and he didn’t have a pulse.
Maricopa Medical Center spokesman Michael Murphy said Monday that the teen was pronounced dead late Sunday afternoon.
The teen’s family members were treated for dehydration.
Temperatures in the preserve ranged from 105 to 110 degrees late Sunday morning.

[big_load]

That's so sad, especially that close to civilization. I suppose they didn't understand what they were up against.

[Grasshopper]

It is very sad . Being from Alaska, the family could be experienced with remote cold weather hiking conditions with wild animals, but obviously not with AZ summer desert conditions. My thoughts & prayers are with them.

[azbackpackr]

It's very sad but it also makes me mad as hell. How could people not know in this day and age that desert heat can be deadly?

[dysfunction]

Same reason many people don't respect the cold. Actually, in this day and age people are FAR more likely to not understand their environment.

[joebartels]

true that

[azbackpackr]

Guess you're right there, guys. Too sad.

[big_load]

I bet the parents are second-guessing themselves in a big way now. There must have been quite an interval between the onset of symptoms and the realization that they signaled serious trouble. A kid that age isn't going to admit to feeling anything less than 100%, so monitoring them is hard.

[joebartels]

Holly cow I didn't read the time part...
4 hours is LONG time for a Phoenix-July-family hike which I doubt started early enough.
The hard core dudes on Squaw rarely stay out half that long in midday heat now.

Sad doesn't scratch the surface

[azdesertfather]

oops, just saw this here. I posted it under the heat-related post, too...
viewtopic.php?t=4254&start=0#40775

[Wild Bill]

Dehydration can start several days before you notice any affects, I try to prehydrate before I go out in this heat and alway's carry an ample supply of water. It's alway a terrible thing when someone gets hurt or dies, so we as Arizonians must teach our guests from out of town the dangers of our environment!