Officials at Death Valley National Park said a second person died from heat exposure in the desert park earlier this month.
Peter Hayes Robino, 57, of Los Angeles County, visited the Natural Bridge Trailhead on Aug. 1. Bystanders saw him stumble on his return from the one-mile trail. They offered to help, but said he declined and his responses "did not make sense," officials said in a news release on Tuesday.
Robino got in his car and then drove off a steep 20-foot embankment near the parking lot. One bystander left to call 911 at 3:50 p.m., and others helped him up to the parking lot and provided shade. At 4:10 p.m., rangers arrived and found he was not breathing. After EMTs administered CPR, Robino was declared dead at 4:42 p.m.
An autopsy revealed he died from hyperthermia. Symptoms include confusion, irritability and lack of coordination.
Officials said it was 119°F that day.
“My condolences go out to Mr. Robino’s family and friends,” wrote Superintendent Mike Reynolds, one of the EMTs who responded. “His death serves as a reminder not to underestimate the dangers of extreme heat.”
The first death in the park this summer was in early July. A motorcyclist from Germany died of heat exposure near Badwater Basin as temperatures hit 128°F.
Rangers said if visiting the park in the summer, avoid the heat by staying in or near A/C, do not hike low elevations after 10 a.m., drink plenty of water and eat salty snacks.
