Biker dies from heat exposure in Death Valley as temperatures hit record highs

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) — A motorcyclist died Saturday from heat exposure while visiting Death Valley National Park, where temperatures reached 128 degrees over the weekend.

A high temperature of 53.3 degrees Celsius (128 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded in the park on Saturday and Sunday. The biker was part of a group of six people traveling through the Badwater Basin area in scorching weather, the park said in a statement.

The person who died has not been identified. A motorcyclist was taken to a Las Vegas hospital for “severe heat illness,” the statement said. Due to the high temperatures, emergency medical helicopters were unable to respond, as planes typically cannot safely fly above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, authorities said.

The other four members of the group were treated on site.

“While this is a very exciting time to experience potentially record-breaking temperatures in Death Valley, we encourage visitors to choose their activities carefully, avoiding extended periods of time outside in a vehicle or air-conditioned building when temperatures are this high,” said park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.

Officials have warned that heat-related illnesses and injuries are cumulative and can worsen over the course of a day or several days.

“In addition to not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle in this hot weather is further complicated by the heavy safety equipment needed to reduce injury in the event of an accident,” the park’s statement said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.