In a tragic incident, a Wisconsin father and daughter were found dead Friday in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. The duo, identified as Albino Herrera Espinoza, 52, and his daughter Beatriz Herrera, 23, got lost and ran out of water while hiking in extreme temperatures above 100 degrees. The couple was hiking the Syncline Loop Trail in the park, located about 250 miles from Salt Lake City.
Espinoza, a well-known figure in Green Bay, Wis., owned a popular Mexican restaurant, El Sarape. The father and daughter were discovered dead within 15 minutes of each other shortly before 6pm. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office was alerted by the National Park Service to a dead hiker in the Upheaval Dome area of ​​the park. Following the report, National Park Service rangers and a helicopter crew launched a search operation.
The exact length of time the father and daughter were missing in the park and how long it took authorities to locate them post-mortem remains unclear. This tragic incident coincides with a historically hot summer in the United States, with record temperatures in about 100 cities from Maine to California. The heat is suspected to have caused more than three dozen deaths in the US in July alone.
Canyonlands National Park, known for its isolated and rugged environment, has warned visitors about high temperatures and intense sunlight during the summer months. The park service advises visitors to bring and drink plenty of water and to avoid strenuous activities during the hottest hours of the day, usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The bodies of Espinoza and Herrera were transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office for further examination. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of outdoor activities in extreme heat.