A man had to be airlifted to the hospital after suffering severe burns to his feet when he lost his shoes in Death Valley. The incident, which occurred on a day with temperatures reaching 123 degrees, took place at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in the national park. Park rangers suspect the man lost his flip-flops while walking on the dunes, leading to his injury. Despite communication issues, the man’s family was able to call for help and others at the park assisted in getting him to a safe location.
Due to the extreme temperatures, it was initially unsafe for a helicopter to land and transport the man to a hospital. However, after being brought to a higher elevation where the temperature was 109 degrees, a helicopter was able to safely transport him to a hospital in Las Vegas. This incident comes after a recent tragic death of a motorcyclist in Death Valley, as well as the deaths of a father and daughter in a Utah national park, all of which have been attributed to the extreme heat.
Park rangers at Death Valley are warning visitors to stay within a 10-minute walk of an air-conditioned vehicle and to avoid going out after 10 a.m. Despite these dangers, the allure of Death Valley continues to attract curious visitors.
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Photo credit www.cleveland.com