1 man dead after rescue of 3 people in White Tank Mountains

PHOENIX — A man died after he was rescued from the White Tank Mountains on Thursday, Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos.

The aviation unit from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) rescued two men and a woman after they called authorities due to exhaustion.

They were flown down to waiting paramedics from the Rural Metro and Buckeye Fire Departments and then were taken to the hospital.

One of the men, who was 21 years old, was hospitalized in critical condition.

He later died, according to Sheridan.

The sheriff added that the man had an internal body temperature of 110 degrees at the time of the rescue.

Maricopa County Sheriff @JerrySheridan24 joined @TheBruceStJames & @GaydosKTAR to give an update on the White Tank Mountain rescue that MCSO took part in yesterday.

Check out the full story and interview here: https://t.co/cSF9MsaUiL pic.twitter.com/4zJG1duqyE

— Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on KTAR News 92.3 (@OutspokenKTAR) August 2, 2025

New details in White Tank Mountains rescue

Sheridan said MCSO’s helicopter was unable to land during the rescue due to the terrain where the two men and the woman were located.

This made the rescue not only more difficult but also more dangerous for all involved.

“They’re putting the rescue people, the helicopter crews, the fire department and everybody, the posse search and rescue people that come out and help them (in danger) because now they’re in this weather exerting themselves,” Sheridan said.

A paramedic had to jump from the helicopter while it was hovering about two feet off the ground.

The man who later died was loaded into a basket and flown down to paramedics first before the helicopter returned for the other man and the woman, Sheridan said.

“They got in way over their heads,” The sheriff said. “People should not be hiking in this temperature.”

Temperatures near White Tank Mountain Regional Park were near 110 degrees on Thursday.

Sheridan said MCSO makes about four rescues a week due to heat exhaustion.

He added that hikers having their phones with them and charged is helpful, as it can help deputies find their location through GPS coordinates.

However, he urged hikers to stay home until the temperatures cool down.

“I don’t care how physically you are in shape,” Sheridan said. “When you’re exerting yourself climbing up a mountain, inside of a mountain in this head, you are going to get overheated and it happens very quickly.”

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