A French tourist died Monday in Death Valley National Park after the vehicle he was traveling in became mired in mud on a remote road during extreme Mojave Desert heat, officials said.
Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, and his travel companion, both visiting from France, were stranded in a remote stretch of the California desert with no other vehicles nearby, according to a National Park Service news release. The two decided to set out on foot across the salt flats in search of help.
Temperatures in Death Valley reached 116 degrees on Aug. 17, and Formosa was unable to keep going after walking a little more than a mile.
His companion continued the trek and eventually came across a passing motorist, who helped him report the emergency at one of the national park’s visitor centers shortly after 2 p.m.
National Park Service rangers, along with local and state emergency responders, began a search and rescue operation soon afterward and later found Formosa.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Inyo County coroner will determine the cause and manner of death, the National Park Service said.
“Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the visitor who died,” Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said.
“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous. Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.”
“We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the search, and our thoughts are with his loved ones,” Reynolds continued.
