An Arizona tourist has died and his wife was rescued after their vehicle got two flat tires and went missing in California’s Death Valley National Park.
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, California – An Arizona tourist died and his wife was rescued Friday after their vehicle suffered two punctures and went missing in California’s Death Valley National Park.
Alexander Lofgren, 32, and Emily Henkel, 27, were found on a steep ledge near Willow Creek in the desert park, but Lofgren was dead, according to a statement from the Inyo Creek Sheriff’s Office.
Henkel was flown to Lemoore Naval Air Station for treatment and there was no immediate confirmation of her condition.
The residents of Tucson, described as experienced campers, did not return from a camping trip on Sunday and were reported missing on Tuesday.
Authorities searched hotels and major tourist attractions along a highway and checked the route of the Lofgren hinterland.
On Wednesday, park staff found the couple’s missing Subaru. According to the sheriff’s office, a note in the car said, “Two flat tires on the way to Mormon Point have water for three days.”
That turned out to be “a crucial tip in steering search efforts,” the sheriff’s office said.
The pair were seen from the air on Thursday, but the crew were unable to lift them and could not reach them in the remote area until shortly after 11:30 a.m. Friday, authorities said.
Lofgren’s cause of death is under investigation.
“This was a hugely difficult operation in a very brutal geographic area of Inyo County, I sincerely hope for a cure and recovery for everyone involved,” Sheriff Jeff Hollowell said in the statement.
Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert of eastern California, is one of the hottest and driest places in the world. It had highlights in the 90s this week.
The rugged park has claimed several lives over the years. In January, an experienced climber descending a canyon collapsed his death when he landed in a rock slide.