3 hikers rescued, 1 dead after becoming dehydrated in scorching Arizona heat

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Three hikers were rescued and one was later found dead after the group became severely dehydrated inside an Arizona park over the weekend, according to local officials.

In a Facebook post, the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue said they were requested to assist the Lake Havasu City Fire Department in search of four people, a 63-year-old woman, a 27-year-old woman, a 61-year-old male and a 31-year-old male, who had gone hiking earlier in the day on Friday in SARA Park and became dehydrated and could no longer continue to the trailhead.

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"They were out of water, dehydrated and showing signs of heat exhaustion," the sheriff's office said in the Facebook post.

After a search, first responders located three of the four missing hikers.

Officials said the two women were taken to a local hospital while the 61-year-old man was taken to the command post to be evaluated.

"After talking with the hikers, they indicated that a 31-year-old male had left them when they called 911 in search of the trailhead," the sheriff's office said. "At that time, he was showing signs of dehydration and fatigue and was believed to be heading back to the trailhead."

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A large search operation was launched to locate the missing man, including the use of hiking and biking teams as well as helicopters.

According to officials, the search continued all night and ended when crews discovered the body of the missing hiker off the marked trail in the desert wilderness.

"They were visiting Sara Park from out of town and unfamiliar with the increased danger of hiking in the heat of the day and the challenging trail system during the summer," the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue said.

The identities of the hikers have not been released.