Barefoot Death Valley tourist severely burned by sand in 123-degree heat, park says
A Death Valley National Park tourist suffered severe burns to his feet after trekking barefoot in triple-digit heat, rangers say.
As temperatures reached about 123 degrees, the 42-year-old Belgium man took a short walk on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes barefoot Saturday, July 20, the National Park Service said in a July 23 news release.
The man had initially been wearing flip-flops, but it’s unclear whether they broke or if he lost them in the sand entirely, rangers said.
Without shoes, the man suffered “full-thickness burns,” or third-degree burns, on his feet, rangers said.
“The man’s family called for help” and got the assistance of fellow park visitors to carry him to the parking lot, the park said.
After rangers arrived, they determined the man needed to quickly be taken to a hospital, given the severity of his injuries and pain levels.
However, it was not safe for a helicopter to land in the area, “due to extreme temperatures,” rangers said.
As a result, rangers said they drove the man in an ambulance to a landing zone at a higher elevation, where temperatures were cooler.
He was airlifted to a hospital, rangers said.
Ongoing heat wave
The incident took place during an ongoing heat wave in Death Valley, where high temperatures have been averaging 117 degrees for July, according to a July 15 NPS news release.
From July 4 to July 12, the park reached at least 125 degrees nine days in a row, according to rangers.
“This was the park’s second-longest streak of high temperatures at or above 125 degrees, just behind the ten-day streak measured in 1913,” rangers said.
During this recent heat wave, the area reached a peak of 129.3 degrees on July 7, according to rangers.
Rangers urged that park visitors be “within a 10 minute walk of an air conditioned vehicle.” Additionally, visitors should not hike in the park after 10 a.m.
While hiking, visitors should “drink plenty of water, eat salty snacks, and wear a hat and sunscreen,” rangers said.
This story was originally published July 24, 2024 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Barefoot Death Valley tourist severely burned by sand in 123-degree heat, park says."
