French Tourist Dies in Death Valley After Car Gets Stuck in Mud Amid Extreme Heat

A 68-year-old French tourist died last week in Death Valley National Park after his vehicle became stuck in mud on a remote road and he set out on foot for help in temperatures that reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Park Service.

Pierre Michel Formosa, of France, was traveling with a companion on Aug. 17 when their car got stuck in mud on West Side Road near Queen of Sheba Mine Road, the park service said in a news release. With no other vehicles in the area, the two men began walking across the salt flats toward Badwater Road to seek assistance.

After about 1.3 miles, Formosa was unable to continue, officials said. His companion kept walking and eventually reached Badwater Road, where a passing motorist helped him report the incident at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center shortly after 2 p.m.

Park rangers and an Inyo County deputy launched a search and rescue operation, joined later by a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The helicopter located Formosa later that afternoon about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Inyo County coroner will determine the cause and manner of death.

Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds expressed condolences and warned about the park's hazards.

"This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous," Reynolds said in the statement. "Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience."

Conditions and Safety Warnings

Death Valley is known as one of the hottest places on Earth. The park's website notes summer temperatures can reach as high as 54 degrees Celsius (about 129 degrees Fahrenheit). The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the area through Sunday night, with high temperatures expected to remain in the 115- to 118-degree range early in the week, and a high of 119 possible midweek.

The park service urged visitors to stay on paved roads during times of extreme heat, carry satellite phones or beacons, and have plenty of drinking water. Officials recommend carrying at least one gallon of water per person per day, and advise that if a vehicle becomes disabled, staying with it is often the safest choice because it provides shade and is easier for search teams to spot.

Limited cell service in many parts of the park means emergency help can be hours away. The park service also warns that some roads are suitable only for off-road vehicles and that travelers should plan routes in advance and check weather and road conditions before departing.

Broader Heat-Related Deaths

The death comes amid a summer of extreme heat in the region. At least four hikers died in June at Grand Canyon National Park from suspected heat-related illnesses, and in July 2024, a Belgian tourist suffered third-degree burns on his feet while walking on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley. At least half a dozen people have died in the park since 2020 due to heat exposure, according to the National Park Service.

Death Valley holds the official record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth: 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913.