Boy who died following hiking rescue on South Mountain identified by police
PHOENIX - Hours after a child collapsed along a Phoenix hiking trail on July 2, police say the boy died.
According to Phoenix Fire Captain Shaun DuBois, crews were called at around 2 p.m. to the Mormon Trailhead on South Mountain for reports of a juvenile who experienced heat-related issues. The boy, identified as 10-year-old Cortinez Logan, was found about a mile up the trail.
Just before 9 p.m., the Phoenix Police Department said the boy died at the hospital.
"[Logan] and his family had recently moved to Phoenix from Missouri," read a portion of a statement released on July 3.
"It affects everyone," said Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller. "It affects firefighters, it affects multiple families, it’s a real tragic situation."
Officials said the boy and his family started on the mountain at around 9:30 a.m. on July 2.
Heat risks while hiking in Arizona's summer
"As a parent, I feel horrible for what happened," said witness Mark Sakowicz. "That’s your responsibility. I think it depends on the parents’ intentions. They want to show their child a good time and get them away from electronics. As adults, we need to make good choices, and today is probably not a good choice to be out in this heat."
July 2 is a rather hot day for the Phoenix area. According to officials from the National Weather Service, Sky Harbor reported a morning low of 92°F, which breaks the previous record of 90°F that was set in 2010, and nine degrees higher than the normal low of 83°F. The high reached 113°F, which is six degrees above average.
Cpt. Keller said the incident on July 2 is a grave example of how deadly the heat can be.
"Stay off the mountains. It’s extremely hot out right now," said Cpt. Keller. "You've got to remember if you go hiking, you’re not just putting yourself in danger, but your firefighters in danger also."
Cpt. Keller warns that visitors and those new to the Phoenix area might not understand just how hazardous the summer temperatures can be. He also warns that even hiking early can be dangerous during this time of the year.
"Mybe they start around 7, 8, 9 10, 11. It’s 105-plus degrees, so that heat does sneak up on them," said Cpt. Keller.
"If we have prolonged exposure to the heat, and we are not hydrating properly, that can cause us to be at risk not only for dehydration, but for heat exhaustion," said Sarah Trahan.