A French tourist died in California's Death Valley National Park on August 17 after his vehicle became stuck in the mud, leading him and his companion to seek help in extreme temperatures. Pierre Michel Formosa, 68, was found deceased approximately a mile and a half from Badwater Road after venturing out from the stranded vehicle.
Formosa and his travel companion became stuck on West Side Road near Queen of Sheba Mine Road. The area was remote, with no other vehicles present, and the temperature registered 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Formosa's companion continued walking for over a mile to find assistance, leaving Formosa behind when he struggled to continue. The companion eventually found a passing motorist, who helped report the situation.
National Park Service rangers and a local sheriff's deputy initiated a search-and-rescue mission shortly after 2 p.m. A California Highway Patrol helicopter later joined the effort and located Formosa. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner's office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Death Valley National Park is known for its extreme temperatures, which can reach up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Park officials advise visitors to carry at least one gallon of water per person per day and to have extra water for vehicle emergencies. The roads within the park often require high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles, and conditions can change rapidly.
Officials recommend that visitors stay on paved roads and avoid hiking in lower elevations during periods of extreme heat. If a vehicle becomes disabled, it is advised to stay with it for shelter, as it is more easily spotted by search teams than a person on foot. Cell service is limited in the park, and visitors are encouraged to carry satellite communicators or emergency beacons and to inform others of their travel plans.
"This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous. Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience," Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a press release.
Formosa had been traveling across the United States with a friend and documented his journey on social media. The day of his death, he posted about heading into Death Valley, noting the extreme heat and the surreal landscape. He had also shared photos from visits to Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fort Bragg, and Yellowstone National Park in the days prior.
Formosa was part of a travelogue group called Les Routes Varoises en Liberté, which sponsors cross-country rides. He was on a 70-day trip covering 14,291 miles across the U.S.