A hiker died Monday and five others were rescued after the group ran out of water and got lost on trails in scorching triple-digit temperatures in Arizona.
Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies got a call at 1:25 p.m. Monday about people with possible heat exhaustion at Spur Cross Trailhead Mountain, about 40 miles north of Phoenix.
Five people were evaluated by fire officials and released at the scene, the sheriff's office said.
A man was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, officials said. The man was described as being in his 20s, the Scottsdale Fire Department said.
His name was not released.
Fire officials said that the hikers had run out of water and gotten lost along the trails and that they were found "suffering from heat emergencies."
A high of 109 degrees was reported at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday, 6 degrees above normal for the date, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service said a “prolonged period of above normal temperatures” is forecast to continue through the middle of the week, with an excessive heat warning in effect through Wednesday in metropolitan Phoenix.
The Scottsdale Fire Department warned residents heading out for hikes to be prepared.
"It is important to plan your hike, hike the plan, bring plenty of water, and know how to identify heat exhaustion," fire officials said.
The body of another hiker, a 31-year-old man, was found Aug. 27 after he got separated from his group in Arizona’s Sara Park, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office said. The hikers had called for help, and authorities found that they were suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion in the blistering weather.
