Lost hiker dies, others rescued from Phoenix-area hiking trail on blazing Labor Day

PHOENIX – One person died and five others were pulled off hiking trails in Cave Creek on Monday afternoon suffering from heat emergencies, first responders said.

The Scottsdale Fire Department said a man died after he and other hikers got lost and ran out of water at the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.

The deceased hiker was identified as Dr. Evan Dishion, a 32-year-old first-year resident at Barrow Neurological Institute, according to media reports.

ABC15 reported that he and his wife just had their first child.

Rescue workers from the Scottsdale, Daisy Mountain and Phoenix fire departments and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office responded to six hikers experiencing heat emergencies on Monday, Scottsdale Fire said.

All of the hikers were air-lifted off the trail; ABC15 reported three were taken to a hospital and two others were evaluated by firefighters and released.

No other details were made available.

An excessive heat warning has been in effect in metro Phoenix since Saturday and was extended through 8 p.m. Wednesday. The high temperature topped out at 109 degrees on Labor Day.

The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department website noted more than 200 people a year have to be rescued during hikes in parks and preserves.

Scottsdale Fire described heat emergencies as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke – the latter includes the person with a rapid, weak pulse, is acting irrationally or confused, breathing is rapid and shallow or is unconscious.

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