In Texas' Big Bend National Park, a Florida man and his teenage stepson died while hiking in the intense heat, according to officials.
Along the trail, the boy became ill and passed out. in a car accident as he sought assistance, according to the authorities, and his stepfather also perished.
It was not immediately clear what specifically caused their deaths.
Recent weeks have seen an unprecedented heat wave in Texas and other southern states. .
The National Park Service has advised hikers to avoid taking afternoon detours, drink plenty of water, and avoid overexposure to the sun.
The 31-year-old man and his two stepsons were out hiking on Friday in 119F (48C) heat when the 14-year-old got sick.
According to the National Park Service, the teen's 21-year-old brother attempted to carry him back to the trailhead while the stepfather hiked back to his car to call for assistance.
About 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT), the Big Bend National Park Communications Center received a call from a person needing emergency assistance.
In the hottest region of Big Bend National Park, the Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs, according to the park service. This challenging trail is dangerous to attempt in the summer heat because there is no shade or water. ".
When park rangers and US Border Patrol agents arrived at the scene at about 19:30 local time, they found the teen dead along the trail.
At around 20:00 local time, rescuers discovered the father's vehicle had overturned at the Boquillas Overlook after searching for him. At the scene of the collision, he was declared dead.
The two victims' names were not immediately made public by the authorities.
The brother, who is 21 years old, was unharmed, but no other information was available regarding his health.
According to officials, Big Bend is currently experiencing extreme heat, with daily highs reaching 110–119 (degrees) at low elevations and along the Rio Grande.
