1 DEAD, 5 RESCUED DURING SEARCH AND RESCUE AT LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
BOULDER CITY, Nev. - Lake Mead National Recreation Area park rangers and its partners conducted a search and rescue operation for two adult males and four Boy Scouts in the White Rock Canyon area June 8.
Clawson Bowman Jr., a 69-year-old Las Vegas male was found dead. The other adult male and four boys were rescued with heat-related illness.
At 1:07 p.m., the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Interagency Communication Center received a report from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office stating four Boy Scouts were lost near the Arizona Hot Springs. Lake Mead NRA Rangers and Fire were dispatched to the area to conduct a search.
At 2:21 p.m., the Lake Mead NRA ICC received another call reporting that two adult males were suffering from heat stroke around the same area.
Rangers made contact with Bowman at 3:21 p.m. about one-mile from the trailhead. He was pronounced dead on arrival. The Mohave County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
The second adult male was located in the area at 3:42 p.m. He was provided advanced life support care until he was rescued by air at 5:54 p.m.
The Boy Scouts maintained phone communication with Lake Mead NRA ICC throughout the search. They were located by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Air Support at 4:59 p.m.
All four Boy Scouts were safely transported from the area by Metro Air by 5:31 p.m. They were treated by paramedics at the trailhead.
“Our sympathies go out to the Bowman family," said Christie Vanover, park spokesperson. “We are thankful that, with the support of around 30 first responders, the others were safely rescued. The boys were very brave this afternoon as they tried to explain their location to our dispatchers."
Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District and AMR River Medical also assisted with the search.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is under an excessive heat warning until 8 p.m. June 9. Temperatures throughout the park are near or above 110 degrees. Hiking in this heat is highly discouraged.
To learn more about the signs, symptoms and first aid for heat exhaustion and heat stroke, visit http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/.
White Rock Canyon is located in Arizona about 3.5 miles south of the Hoover Dam Bypass: http://goo.gl/maps/CvXjF.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
