A 37-year-old woman from Battle Creek, Michigan died from unknown medical complications while backpacking at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. The woman was hiking near Lake LeSage with her partner when she experienced sudden onset medical issues and eventually lost consciousness and stopped breathing. CPR was unsuccessful in reviving her. Other backpackers in the area contacted authorities through a delayed 911 text message, leading to a response from the National Park Service staff. The park is known for its remote location and limited accessibility, with no vehicles allowed on the island and unreliable cell phone service for emergencies.
Isle Royale National Park, established in 1940, consists of over 400 islands, with the main island being 50 miles long. The park is only accessible by ferry, seaplane, or private watercraft. The recent death is part of a larger trend of deaths occurring at national parks, with over 4,200 deaths reported from 2007 to 2014. The majority of deaths are due to unintentional causes such as motor vehicle crashes, drownings, and falls. Half of the medical deaths occur while individuals are engaged in physical activities like hiking, biking, and swimming.
Recent incidents at national parks, including heat exposure deaths at Death Valley National Park and accidents at Grand Canyon National Park, highlight the risks associated with outdoor activities in these remote and sometimes hazardous environments. The woman’s death at Isle Royale National Park adds to the statistics of deaths that have occurred in national parks across the country.
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