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Colorado Man Dies While Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park

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Published Date

January 10, 2009

Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Mark Cushman via flickr.

A 55-year-old Colorado man out snowshoeing with his family Saturday in Rocky Mountain National Park collapsed and died on the Longs Peak Trail.

The man, from Lakewood, collapsed about 2.5 miles from the trailhead at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet above sea level, according to park officials.

Park dispatch was contacted from the Longs Peak emergency phone, located at the trailhead, at 2:25 p.m. The caller indicated that a man was receiving CPR on the trail. Rangers started up the trail approximately 30 minutes after the initial report.

Rangers reached the man at 4:20 p.m. After consulting with the park’s medical adviser, a physician at Estes Park Medical Center, the man was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.

The victim's name will be released after other family members are notified.

Comments

Oof, sad. Hearts go out to family & friends. Altitude or cold or exhaustion?

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My travels through the National Park System: americaincontext.com


He died of a cardiac arrest. He had a very clogged artery.

[Ed: According to the Larimer County Deputy Coroner, the autopsy revealed that the victim had heart disease and an almost fully-blocked artery in his heart.]


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