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Hot Sand Burns Man's Feet At Death Valley National Park

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Published Date

July 24, 2024

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes/NPS

A Belgium visitor walking into the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park severely burned his feet when he lost his shoes, according to a park release.

While the air temperature when the unidentified man headed into the dunes last weekend was around 123° Fahrenheit, park staff said "the ground temperature would have been much hotter..."

According to the release, the man had to be rescued "after suffering full-thickness burns on his feet."

The man’s family called for help and recruited other park visitors who carried the man to the parking lot.

Park rangers determined the man needed to be transported to a hospital quickly due to his burns and pain level. Mercy Air’s helicopter was not able to safely land in Death Valley due to extreme temperatures, which reduce rotor lift. Park rangers transported the man in an ambulance to a landing zone at higher elevation, where the temperature was 109°F, and the man was flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Rangers were not able to determine if his flip flops broke or were lost in sand.

Park rangers recommend that summer travelers to Death Valley National Park stay within a 10-minute walk of an air conditioned vehicle, not hike after 10 a.m., drink plenty of water, eat salty snacks, and wear a hat and sunscreen.

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