Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

32-year-old hiker dies from heat exhaustion at Zion National Park in Utah

Victim had been complaining of heat exhaustion at the exit route of the Left Fork of North Creek, which is a popular canyon in the national park

Kelsie Sandoval
in New York
Tuesday 31 August 2021 21:30 BST
Comments
California hiker saved from whirlpool
Leer en Español

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A 32-year-old hiker has died from heat exhaustion at Utah’s Zion National Park, according to officials.

A statement released by the Zion National Park said the incident occurred on Monday. The hiker, named John Henry Wolf, was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Zion dispatch team received a report saying Wolf had been complaining of heat exhaustion at the exit route of the Left Fork of North Creek, which is a popular canyon in the national park.

After the report, medical personnel rushed to his location and performed CPR on him for an hour. He did not respond to the treatment and died at the scene.

A helicopter retrieved Wolf’s body and his death is being investigated by the National Park Service and Washington County’s sheriff’s office.

Earlier this month, a Boston woman died from a heat-related illness after hiking in the Phoenix mountain in Arizona. Officials believe she was in search of water after she decided to turn around in the middle of her hike.

The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention says if you’re not used to exercising in the heat, start slow. If you end up gasping for air, halt all physical activity and try to go into a shaded area.

Beyond hiking, there have been hundreds of heat-related deaths this summer. Washington and Oregon state reported 95 and 96 deaths, respectively, but there were hundreds of excess deaths, too.

Staying hydrated is crucial to preventing heat illnesses, according to the CDC. The organisation also recommends drinking one cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes if you work in the heat.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in