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submitted 4 months ago by Stopthatgirl7@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

According to a National Park Service news release, the 42-year-old Belgian tourist was taking a short walk Saturday in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in 123-degree heat when he either broke or lost his flip-flops, putting his feet into direct contact with the desert ground. The result: third-degree burns.

"The skin was melted off his foot," said Death Valley National Park Service Ranger Gia Ponce. "The ground can be much hotter — 170, 180 [degrees]. Sometimes up into the 200 range."

Unable to get out on his own and in extreme pain, the man and his family recruited other park visitors to help; together, the group carried him to the sand dunes parking lot, where park rangers assessed his injuries.

Though they wanted a helicopter to fly him out, helicopters can't generate enough lift to fly in the heat-thinned air over the hottest parts of Death Valley, officials said. So park rangers summoned an ambulance that took him to higher ground, where it was a cooler 109 degrees and he could then be flown out.

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[-] Raiderkev@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago

I guess you can say it was no walk in the park for that guy. I'll see myself out.

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

Hopefully this wasn't the sole destination on his trip

[-] aesthelete@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Death Valley, frequented in the summer by those looking to be in contention for the year's Darwin award.

[-] some_guy 8 points 4 months ago

Terrible fates that I'd never considered for $100.

[-] Cosmicomical@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

That's the kind of shit i expect to happen in a place called death valley. I will only go if escorted by hokuto no ken

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[-] Hellnikko@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

The best part is no matter what health insurance he has (or doesn't have), that's gonna be expensive as fuck by the end of the year.

[-] skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Belgian. So probably no freedumb buck based medical system. Wouldn't be surprised if those systems also cover citizens while abroad.

[-] PixTupy@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 months ago

They don't, you're advised to buy the most expensive travel insurance you can find when going to USA or Canada.

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[-] irotsoma@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Yeah, if you're going to venture into dangerous areas at least learn basic survival skills. Like why the hell didn't he wrap his feet using his clothes?

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this post was submitted on 25 Jul 2024
562 points (98.1% liked)

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