A Manassas, Virginia, man died over the weekend while attempting to make the Rim-to-Rim hike at the Grand Canyon, park officials said.
On Saturday, Ranjith Varma, 55, was trying to hike between the 21-mile trek from the South Rim to the North Rim in a single day, according to Grand Canyon National Park officials.
NPS personnel received an emergency call regarding Varma’s distress at around 1:55 p.m. Varma would pass out and become unresponsive shortly thereafter, receiving CPR from bystanders.
Varma passed out about a mile south of Cottonwood Campground, park officials said. The location is close to the end of the 12-15 hour hike, according to the Associated Press.
Park search and rescue workers came to his location via helicopter in order to render further aid, but attempts to resuscitate him failed, Grand Canyon National Park officials said.
Park rangers discourage hiking through the inner canyon between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as summer temperatures on exposed portions of trail can reach 120 degrees in the shade.
Varma’s death is being investigated by NPS and the medical examiner in Coconino County, Arizona.
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