French couple dead after hike in New Mexico; child rescued

Two French hikers were killed in White Sands National Monument, located right outside of Las Cruces, N.M., last week.

The boy, speaking through an interpreter, told authorities that his mother fell ill during the hike and turned back toward the auto.

“We were trying to figure out what was going on”, House said.

Otero County Sheriff Benny House told ABC-7 that investigators believe the woman may have fallen down one of the dunes, hurting herself.

The sheriff’s workplace ed the French consulate in Los Angeles and officers there notified the household’s family members. However, Ornella would only make it about 100 yards before collapsing in the heat as her husband and son pushed forward not knowing of her fate. The child was found alongside his father and rushed to a hospital, where he spent the night and was treated for heat exposure.

But while Park rangers were too late to save the couple, authorities rescued the dehydrated boy, according to the National Park Service.

House told the AP that the father and son continued on the trail unaware that Steiner had succumbed to the heat. It advises people to hike during cool times.

It is not clear whether the Steiner family received or read safety warnings urging visitors to carry ample water and beware of the extreme heat. Drinking water is available only at the Visitor Center. “With the white reflecting, and no shade and no trees, it can be quite extreme”. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses.

The Steiners’ deaths were the third and fourth at the park in the past 10 years, the sheriff’s office told CNN affiliate KVIA.

KFOX 14 spoke with the park rangers at White Sands, and they say hikers may not know what they are walking into when they plan a trip to the park.

“They’re on our minds”, she said.

The family was visiting from Reims, France, where they are from.

“The grandmother flew into Albuquerque from France”, House said. “It’s just a tragedy”.

The household had two 20-ounce water bottles once they set out on the hike alongside the nationwide monument’s Alkali Flat path at about 1 p.m., Home stated. “We have not gotten an official report back as of Friday. I just think they underestimated the desert”.