PHOENIX — A 21-year-old man has died after being rescued from the White Tank Mountains on Thursday, following a desperate call for help from a group overwhelmed by extreme heat.
Treacherous Rescue Effort Amid 110-Degree Heat
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office aviation unit responded to the scene but faced challenges due to rugged terrain, making it impossible for their helicopter to land. A paramedic had to leap from the hovering aircraft to reach the stranded hikers.
“They’re putting the rescue people, the helicopter crews, the fire department, and everybody else in danger because they’re now exerting themselves in this weather,” Sheridan said, emphasizing the risks faced by rescuers.
After securing the most critical victim — who had an internal body temperature of 110 degrees — rescuers loaded him into a basket and airlifted him to awaiting paramedics. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The remaining two hikers were rescued in a second trip and also transported for medical treatment.
Sheriff Urges Public to Stay Off Trails During Heat Waves
Sheridan issued a blunt warning to hikers, urging them to avoid strenuous activity outdoors during extreme heat. “It doesn’t matter how physically fit you are. Climbing in this kind of heat will overtake you very quickly,” he said.
Temperatures near White Tank Mountain Regional Park were around 110 degrees during Thursday’s incident. Sheridan noted that his office averages about four rescues per week due to heat exhaustion, and stressed the importance of hikers carrying fully charged phones to assist in location tracking.
“This was a completely preventable tragedy,” Sheridan said.
