A Virginia hiker collapsed and died Saturday while attempting to hike more than 20 miles in a single day in the Grand Canyon, authorities said.
Ranjith Varma, 55, died shortly after first responders received a call around 2 p.m. of a hiker in distress on the North Kaibab Trail while attempting to travel from the South Rim to the North Rim within the Arizona portion of the sprawling National Park.
Varma, of Manassas, became unresponsive about a mile south of Cottonwood Campground after the emergency call was made, and bystanders began administering CPR, the National Park Service said in a news release.
Rescuers reached Ranjith Varma, but he was no longer responding about a mile south of Cottonwood Campground after the emergency call.
Rescuers arrived in Varma by helicopter, and specialized maneuvers were needed to allow rangers to perform advanced life support efforts, the agency said.
“Attempts to resuscitate the hiker were unsuccessful,” the NPS said.
He died closer to the North Rim, where he hoped to conclude his trek.
The Rim-to-Rim hike is a difficult hike that is 24 miles one way.
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“There’s no doubt about it, the rim-to-rim hike in Grand Canyon National Park is a classic bucket-list adventure,” the National Park Foundation recommended. “But it’s no walk in the park, that’s for sure.”
The cause of Varma’s death has not been revealed, but the park service warned that temperatures in the summer months on exposed parts of the trail can reach more than 120 degrees in the shade.
The temperature at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, a 25-minute drive from the South Rim, did not reach 90 degrees on Saturday.
“Park rangers strongly recommend against hiking the inner canyon during the heat of the day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” the NPS said.
“Please note that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staffing, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flight capacity during periods of heat. extreme or inclement weather.
An investigation into the death is underway with the assistance of the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
Other deaths at the Grand Canyon this summer include a 33-year-old tourist who fell to his death from 4,000 feet in June and a 57-year-old woman who died during a 100-degree heat wave in early July.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn