Death Valley National Park (CA)
Exposure Fatality
Robert Hudson, 80, from Rancho Palo Verde, California, was reported overdue from hiking on the Stovepipe Wells dunes on Monday, July 7th. Ranger/pilot Ed Forner located Hudson from the air in the dune field, and directed a search and rescue team to his location. The rescue team started CPR and transported Hudson from the dunes to the Stovepipe Wells airstrip, where Mercy Air paramedics took over treatment. Hudson’s niece, who reported him missing, was treated and released for heat-related illness. The search and rescue team was interdivisional and included park staff from maintenance, interpretation. resource management and protection. The search started at 1:15 p.m., during the hottest time of the day – the air temperature was 115 degrees at Stovepipe Wells, with the reflective heat from the dunes over 120 degrees. Ranger Ed Derobertis was the incident commander for this incident.
[Submitted by Nancy Wizner, Chief Ranger]
http://data2.itc.nps.gov/morningreport/morningreportold.cfm?date=07%2F11%2F2003
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