A tourist’s skin has reportedly melted after he visited Death Valley during extreme temperatures this summer, causing a medical emergency that resulted in the tourist having to be taken to a Las Vegas hospital by helicopter.
This incident comes during a summer that has seen incredibly high temperatures in Death Valley. Many tourists have flocked to the region, even as it nears record-high heat.
Death Valley’s Hot Summer
Since the beginning of 2024’s summer, Death Valley National Park officials have warned tourists to be careful when visiting the park, as the region has seen extremely hot temperatures.
Excessive warnings have been put in place, as well as recommended guidelines for all visitors.
A Tourist Lost His Shoe
Unfortunately, one tourist found himself in a medical emergency when he visited Death Valley and was walking on the sand dunes of the park.
This Belgian tourist lost his shoe — and ended up suffering third-degree burns on his feet as a result.
The Tourist’s Skin Melted
Park officials have since come out to talk about this incident, explaining how the tourist only suffered these severe burns because he lost his shoe. However, they also explained the terrible situation his feet were left in.
Gia Ponce, a park ranger, said, “The skin was melted off his foot.”
A Painful Situation
Park rangers also explained that this tourist had suffered from “full-thickness” burns on his feet after losing his shoes.
He was also in incredible pain, which led to officials working to get him to a hospital quickly.
An Excessively Hot Day
According to park officials, the tourist was visiting Death Valley — and walking on these very hot sand dunes — on a day when temperatures were around 123 degrees.
However, the ground temperature was likely much hotter. Some officials have claimed that the ground in Death Valley can reach around 170 to 180 degrees. In some cases, it has even reached a whopping 200 degrees.
A Rescue Operation
After this man lost his flip-flops, forcing his feet to touch the hot sand dunes, he immediately began to call for him. His family assisted him and also asked others in the region for help.
Many other park visitors came to his rescue, with people helping to carry him to a parking lot as they waited for the paramedics to arrive.
Why a Helicopter Couldn’t Rescue Him
Park officials worked to get a helicopter to bring the tourist to the closest hospital, as he was in severe pain. However, they quickly learned that a helicopter couldn’t actually arrive at the scene.
Because of the extreme heat in the region, no helicopter could safely fly and land in the area. This ultimately led to a ground ambulance rushing to the scene.
Taking the Tourist to a Higher Area
This resulted in a ground ambulance taking the man to an area with a higher elevation. Temperatures were slightly cooler here at around 109 degrees.
This allowed for a helicopter to safely land. Once the man was on board the helicopter, it took him to a nearby Las Vegas hospital where he could be quickly treated.
Death Valley Park Rangers Warn Tourists
This unfortunate situation has only made Death Valley park rangers continue to warn tourists to take precautions when they are visiting the extremely hot region.
Death Valley currently holds the record for being the hottest place on Earth. So far, the hottest temperature ever recorded in the area was 134 degrees in 1913 — though officials believe this record may soon be broken.
Tourists Should Be Careful
Officials have recommended that tourists be extra careful when visiting the park this summer, especially after this medical incident.
They’ve urged visitors to stay within the vicinity of an air-conditioned vehicle. They should never be more than 10 minutes away from this car, regardless of what hike they’re going on.
Death Valley Recommended Restrictions
Rangers have also recommended that visitors ensure they are drinking plenty of water during their travels in Death Valley. They should also eat salty snacks, wear appropriate clothing for the heat, and wear sunscreen.
Finally, rangers recommend one restriction: that people do not hike in Death Valley after 10 a.m., as the extreme heat could lead to medical incidents such as this most recent one.
