A man died Friday afternoon while hiking the West Rim Trail at Zion National Park.
The 63-year-old from San Diego collapsed near Scout Lookout, which is almost two miles up the steep trail and a waypoint before the chain section of the hike to Angels Landing.
When park rangers arrived at the scene, according to a press release issued by Zion National Park, they found visitors with medical training already performing CPR. After nearly an hour and a half of administering CPR and employing the automated external defibrillator and heart monitor brought by the rangers, a doctor pronounced the man dead.
The cause of death, according to the press release, is believed to be a heart attack, though it is still under investigation.
More than 20 search and rescue team members responded to the incident, including emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and the park ambulance.
Scout Lookout is the closest view a person can get to Angels Landing without a permit, according to the Hiking Guy website. It’s 3.6 miles round-trip with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain. It is the last stop before the permitted portion of the Angels Landing hike begins.
“All of us at Zion extend our deepest condolences to this hiker’s family,” Zion Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said in a press release. “We also want to express thanks to the bystanders who assisted by performing CPR.”
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