Community Police & Fire

Gig Harbor man dies while hiking in California national park

A 66-year-old Gig Harbor man died while hiking with his wife in Death Valley National Park in California on April 5, according to the National Parks Service.

The man was about a mile up Mosaic Canyon Trail when he suffered what officials termed an “acute medical event.” The Parks Service did not identify the man.

Other hikers used an iPhone function called satellite SOS to call for help at 9:45 am. A registered nurse and nurse practitioner who were hiking in the area responded and attempted to revive the man.

Park rangers arrived around 10:30 and joined the resuscitation efforts, but emergency responders declared the man dead at 11:04 am.

A National Park Service search and rescue team carried the man’s remains to the trailhead by and transferred them to the care of the Inyo County, Calif., Coroner.

This National Park Service photo shows emergency responders’ vehicles at Mosaic Canyon trailhead in Death Valley National Park.