FL Man, Stepson Die While Hiking In 119-Degree Heat In Texas

ORLANDO, FL — A Florida man and his 14-year-old stepson died last week after hiking in extreme heat at Big Bend National Park in Texas, according to the National Park Service.

Park officials said the 31-year-old father and his two stepsons, ages 14 and 21, were hiking the Marufo Vega Trail around 6 p.m. Friday when the youngest boy fell ill and lost consciousness. Officials said temperatures were 119 degrees at the time.

According to officials, the father left his stepsons to hike back to their vehicle and find help. Meanwhile, the older brother attempted to carry the younger boy back to the trailhead.

A team of park rangers and U.S. Border Patrol agents reached their location around 7:30 pm and found the 14-year-old boy dead along the trail, officials said. Authorities searched for the father and found his vehicle 30 minutes later, crashed over an embankment. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Park officials did not release the victims' names; however, the family was from Orlando, according to a FOX 35 report. The 21-year-old stepson has since returned home, park officials told FOX 35.

According to the National Park Service, the Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs within the hottest part of Big Bend National Park. No shade or water makes the trail dangerous to attempt during summer.

When the deaths occurred, Big Bend National Park was experiencing extreme heat with daily highs reaching 110 to 119 degrees Fahrenheit at low elevations and along the Rio Grande River.