Latest news with #naturalcauses
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about an avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail
Police are investigating the death of a 74-year-old man who was found unresponsive on a popular hiking trail in Payson. On the afternoon of May 28, the Payson Police Department said it received reports of a man who did not return from a hike on the Boulder Loop Trail. An easily accessible trail near the southern edge of Payson, the Boulder Loop Trail draws hikers who want to see unique rock formations found along the path. Here's what we know about reported circumstances around the man's death and a warning given from authorities. Police said it was unusual for the 74-year-old man, described as an avid and well-prepared hiker, not to return from a trip, prompting someone to report him missing. He was known for bringing ample food and water on his hikes, making his disappearance especially concerning. Only a few hours after his disappearance was reported, authorities received a call from a hiker who found the man dead near the trail. An initial investigation revealed no signs of foul play and pointed to heat-related illness as a possible factor in the man's death, police said. "The death is believed to be from natural causes," the Payson Police Department said in a statement. The man, who remained unidentified, was transported to the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office, where an investigation would continue. Police warned that cooler temperatures forecast for northern Arizona could prove deceptive and said hikers should take steps to prevent extreme weather from enabling a tragedy. "Temperatures in rim country can be very hot or very cold," the Payson Police Department wrote in a statement. The department recommended that those headed to the area should dress appropriately for the weather, bring plenty of food, water and electrolytes. The National Park Service said because of the heat, hikers should remain on trails within their ability and rest regularly. The National Park Service advised that people avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months to avoid the worst of the heat. People were advised to drink at least one quart of water per hour of hiking and to pre-hydrate before hitting the trails. While hiker deaths on Arizona's many trails are not uncommon, they are typically the result of noncriminal factors. Most recently on May 22, another experienced hiker, Hannah Moody, 31, was found dead after she went missing on a north Phoenix-area hiking trail. Her death remains under investigation. 'She loved hard': Family, friends reflect on Hannah Moody's death while hiking On May 15, Dennis Smith, 74, visiting Arizona from Washington, died on the Grand Canyon's North Kaibab Trail. Bystanders and park service personnel could not resuscitate Smith at the scene. Days earlier, Noah Farabaugh, 33, died after he was part of a group of five hikers experiencing heat issues near the Wave Cave trailhead in the Superstition Mountains near Mesa. 'He knew what he was doing': Hiker's death in Superstition Mountains shocked family Summer 2024 saw eight Grand Canyon trekkers die while hiking different areas of the national park. Four of them were over the age of 55. In early September, a 71-year-old man was pulled from the Colorado River following a boating incident. Just days earlier, a 59-year-old also died in the river. In late August, two hikers — one 60 and the other 80 — died in separate incidents. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- The Guardian
Police end investigation into three deaths at Dorset care home
Police have concluded that two residents found dead at a Dorset care home died of natural causes but an inquest will be held to establish the cause of a third death. The deaths of the two men and one woman led to all residents at the Gainsborough care home in Swanage being evacuated amid fears the three may have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. Seven months on Dorset police said they had concluded that a 74-year-old man and the 86-year-old woman died of natural causes with carbon monoxide poisoning ruled out. The force said officers believed the cause of death for the third person, a 91-year-old man, was believed to be 'unnatural' but their investigations had not revealed any third-party involvement or contribution of environmental factors that required further police investigation. It will be down to a coroner to examine the circumstances of his death. Police received a report at 7.16am on Wednesday 23 October 2024 that there had been three unexplained deaths at the care home in Ulwell Road. In a statement, the police said: 'Due to the unusual circumstances involving three deaths occurring in close succession and no immediate confirmed cause of the deaths, a multi-agency response was instigated and an investigation was launched, led by detectives from Dorset police's major crime investigation team. 'Information presented to police during the early stages of the incident indicated a possible link to the presence of carbon monoxide. Following this information, a 60-year-old local woman was arrested. 'Within a short space of time, detectives were able to rule out a leak of carbon monoxide from the care home's boiler or any other gas appliances. A thorough examination of the scene also ruled out any other apparent environmental factors that may have contributed to the deaths. 'Once these enquiries had concluded, the arrested woman was immediately released from the investigation without charge.' Since then detailed forensic pathology work has been carried out to try to establish the cause of the deaths. DCI Neil Third, of Dorset police, said: 'We were duty bound, and indeed the public would expect us, to fully investigate the circumstances of the deaths. All agencies worked closely together and the relevant experts were consulted. 'At the forefront of our minds have been the families of the three individuals involved, as we have conducted exhaustive enquiries into the full circumstances of the deaths of their loved ones. We have kept them fully updated and would like to thank them for the way they have conducted themselves over recent months as we carried out a range of complex enquiries.'
