Education Images/ Getty.Photo: Education Images/ Getty
A 22-year-old man from Missouri died this week while on a hike in an unmarked area of Badlands National Park in South Dakota, police said.
“He was being observed for exposure and dehydration due to the hot weather and lack of water,” they continued.
Temperatures at Badlands National Park neared 100 degrees for most of the week, theSt. Louis Post Dispatchreported.
In the release, the sheriff’s office said the two men had been hiking along an unmarked trail that has allegedly been the focus of a social media challenge.
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“The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public [to] stay on marked trails and carry sufficient supplies when participating in outdoor activities,” the department said, adding the incident is still under investigation.
The sheriff’s office did not specify whether they believe Right and his friend were participating in the challenge, and PEOPLE has reached out to the department for comment.
Sheriff spokeswoman, Helene Duhamel, told NBC affiliateKSDKthat the department did not want to share specifics about the challenge but said, “clearly, it’s out there.”
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“We’ve said many times, you have to have enough water, water, water,” she added. “But I don’t think people understand and they underestimate the heat, especially in the Badlands.”
The sheriff’s office said Badlands National Park Law Enforcement, Life Flight, Wall Ambulance, Rapid City Ambulance, and Interior Volunteer Fire Department also responded to Wednesday’s incident.
source: people.com
