Two people lost their lives on Friday in Big Bend National Park, Texas while hiking under extreme heat conditions, as announced by the National Park Service.
The victims were identified as a stepfather and one of his stepsons from Florida, who embarked on the perilous Marufo Vega Trail when temperatures soared to a scorching 119 degrees.
The Marufo Vega Trail, renowned for its arduous terrain of harsh deserts and rocky cliffs, winds through the sweltering heart of Big Bend National Park, devoid of shade or water sources. The park service firmly cautions against venturing on this challenging trail during the searing summer months. Presently, Big Bend is grappling with a severe heatwave, with daily highs ranging from 110 to 119 degrees in lower elevations and along the Rio Grande.
According to park service officials, the younger stepson, aged 14, fell ill while hiking and later lost consciousness along the trail. In response, the 31-year-old stepfather made the difficult decision to hike back to their vehicle in search of help. Meanwhile, the older stepson, aged 21, valiantly attempted to carry his ailing brother back to the trailhead.
The dire situation prompted a distress call to the Big Bend National Park’s Communications Center around 6 pm. Shortly thereafter, at around 7:30 pm, park rangers and US Border Patrol Agents arrived at the scene and discovered the young victim deceased on the trail. Concurrently, authorities initiated a search for the stepfather. Eventually, at around 8 pm, his vehicle was located at the Boquillas Overlook, having veered off an embankment.
The 31-year-old stepfather was pronounced dead at the crash site. No further information has been disclosed about the 21-year-old stepson’s condition. The incident remains under investigation as officials strive to piece together the events leading to this tragic outcome.
