A man in his 50s dies while hiking in the heatwave, recording a body temperature of 40.5 degrees
A tragic incident occurred in Jin-an, Jeollabok-do, where a man in his 50s died while hiking under a heatwave warning.
This incident is suspected to be a case of heatstroke that occurred amid the prolonged heat, raising awareness about hiking safety during the summer.
According to the Jeollabok-do Fire Headquarters on the 7th, a report was received around 6:13 PM the previous day stating, "My husband, who hiked with me from Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, is missing."
The firefighting authorities immediately launched a search and found Mr. A, in his 50s, unconscious and collapsed near the mountain summit.
When Mr. A was discovered, he was in cardiac arrest, and it was reported that his temperature measured a staggering 40.5 degrees using an eardrum thermometer.
The rescuers quickly transported Mr. A to a nearby hospital by helicopter, but he ultimately died during treatment.
The hospital estimated that Mr. A's cause of death was cardiac arrest due to heatstroke.
The dangers of hiking in the heatwave and safety measures
The Jin-an area, where the accident occurred, was under a heatwave advisory, with extreme heat continuing for several days, causing daytime temperatures to exceed 32 degrees Celsius.
Experts point out that hiking under these weather conditions can lead to significant physical exhaustion and a high risk of dehydration, necessitating extra caution.
Heatstroke is a serious health issue that occurs when the body's temperature regulation function fails, and the risk of occurrence increases especially with vigorous physical activity in hot and humid environments.
In response, the Disease Control and Prevention Agency advises minimizing outdoor activities on days when heatwave warnings are issued, and if unavoidable, to ensure sufficient hydration and take breaks.
The police are currently investigating the exact circumstances surrounding the accident involving Mr. A and the members of the hiking group he was with.
Image source: Reference photo for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank
