Daijiworld Media Network - California

California, Aug 24: A 68-year-old French tourist died in California's Death Valley after the vehicle he was travelling in became stuck in mud and he walked into the desert in search of help amid temperatures reaching 116 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pierre Michel Formosa was travelling with a companion on Monday when their vehicle became stuck in mud, the National Park Service said.

The two men then set out on foot across the desert salt flats towards Badwater Road, one of the main paved roads in Death Valley National Park, to seek assistance.

According to the park service, Formosa was unable to continue walking and stopped about 1.3 miles into the journey. His companion continued towards the road and reached it at around 2 pm, where he flagged down a passing motorist.

The incident triggered a search operation involving National Park Service rangers and a California Highway Patrol helicopter.

Search teams found Formosa's body later that afternoon, about 1.5 miles from Badwater Road, officials said.

Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds expressed condolences to Formosa's family and warned visitors about the dangers posed by the area's extreme conditions.

“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous,” Reynolds said.

The location where Formosa and his companion's vehicle became stuck is near a hiking trail in a historic mining area of the park.

The National Weather Service had issued an extreme heat warning for the region, cautioning visitors about “dangerously hot conditions”. Temperatures in Death Valley were forecast to remain between 115 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday and Tuesday, with a high of 119 degrees expected on Wednesday.

The park service urged visitors to remain on paved roads during periods of extreme heat, carry satellite phones or emergency beacons and ensure they have sufficient drinking water.

“Death Valley is an extraordinary place,” Reynolds said, while warning that its extreme heat, long distances and remote terrain can become dangerous regardless of a visitor's experience.

Authorities have repeatedly advised visitors to avoid strenuous outdoor activity during extreme heat and to plan carefully before travelling into remote areas of the park.