Ranjith Varma: Virginia man, 55, dies attempting Grand Canyon hike in a single day
GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA: Ranjith Varma, a Virginia man, has died while attempting to traverse from Grand Canyon's South Rim to the North Rim in a single day on Saturday, September 9.
According to the National Park Service's news release, the agency received an emergency call about a "hiker in distress" on the North Kaibab Trail and their search and rescue personnel responded to the scene which is a a treacherous route that spans the depths of the Grand Canyon.
What was Ranjith Varma's cause of death?
The 55-year-old hiker, a resident of Manassas, became unresponsive shortly after the emergency call, and bystanders initiated CPR in a desperate effort to save his life.
Varma was in the company of six other individuals, all of whom were attempting to complete their walk through the inner canyon.
Despite the quick response of the crew who reached the scene via helicopter, their efforts to resuscitate the hiker proved unsuccessful, according to the park service, reported CBS News.
While the exact cause of Varma's death has not been disclosed, an investigation into the tragic incident is still underway.
Was Ranjith Varma's death heat-related?
According to The Guardian, Joelle Baird, a public affairs specialist for the NPS addressed the death of Varma saying, "It definitely is a tragic circumstance."
"No one comes to the Grand Canyon thinking something like this would occur to them," Baird added.
As per the NPS, hikers are strongly advised by the park rangers to avoid taking the inner canyon route between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm when the scorching heat tends to be worse.
Spanning around 21 miles in distance, the hike can typically take between 12 and 15 hours to complete.
On the day of Varma's hike, the temperatures within the canyon soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to AP, the nearby Grand Canyon Airport recorded a high temperature of 87 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, September 10.
The canyon's exposed portions of the trail can reach over 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months. However, it remains unclear whether Varma's death was heat-related, according to the AP.
A statement by the park service read, "Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather."
The agency has also requested hikers to remain updated on currently available information on the conditions of the inner canyon and related tips.