- Logan Cortinez was hiking on a trail with his family on Phoenix’s South Mountain.
Police have identified a nine-year-old boy who died “as a result of a heat-related medical event” after collapsing during a hike in the Arizona desert.
Cortinez Logan was hiking on a trail with his family at South Mountain Park and Preserve near Phoenix as temperatures soared to 113°F on Tuesday.
The Logan family left in the early morning hours, but later in the afternoon Cortinez became overcome by the heat and began “fading in and out of consciousness,” authorities said.
Phoenix Fire first responders were called to the area shortly before 3 p.m. and the boy was airlifted to a nearby ambulance that took him to hospital, where he later died.
Detectives were on the scene at the park and responded to the hospital to take over the investigation into her death. 12News reports.
Cortinez Logan hiked a trail with his family at South Mountain Park and Preserve
Cortinez and her family had recently moved to Phoenix from Missouri.
First responders reportedly administered CPR to the boy on the trail but were unable to save him.
Trails on South Mountain were open on the day of the boy’s death and the National Weather Service had not issued an extreme heat watch or warning, despite triple-digit temperatures.
Popular Phoenix trails typically close on days with excessive heat warnings.
Phoenix Fire Capt. Todd Keller warned that it is vital for hikers to stay properly hydrated and said they should always carry a cell phone and water.
“If someone hasn’t been properly hydrated and hasn’t been drinking enough water, that heat can hit them in a matter of minutes,” Keller said.
‘When you’ve consumed half the water, you’ve completed half your walk.
‘If you start to feel any kind of dizziness or lightheadedness, stop, turn around and come back another day. Just because you don’t make it to the top of the mountain doesn’t mean you haven’t had a successful hike.’
File image shows the Hidden Valley Mormon Trail in South Mountain Park Reservation
Firefighters train to perform rescues in difficult conditions, such as extremely hot weather, but Keller said every call puts his team at risk.
“Our firefighters are the best trained first responders in the world. They know what’s coming, but the heat is getting to them,” Keller said.
“That’s why we always say that if you’re going to climb the mountain, you’re putting yourself in danger and you’re putting our rescuers in danger.”
