French tourist dies stranded in Death Valley's extreme heat
French tourist died stranded in Death Valley during 116-degree heat.
Event / Disaster
Death Valley Tourist Heat Death
A 68-year-old French tourist died in Death Valley National Park after his vehicle became stuck in mud during extreme heat. He and his companion attempted to walk across salt flats in 116-degree temperatures to seek help. After walking just over a mile, Formosa was unable to continue. His companion found help and alerted authorities, but Formosa was found deceased at the scene.
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2026-08-23 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 23 Aug, 10:51 UTC
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What happened
French tourist dies in Death Valley after becoming stranded in extreme heat
Pierre Michel Formosa, a 68-year-old French tourist, died in Death Valley National Park after his vehicle became stuck in mud on a remote road. He and his travel companion attempted to walk across the salt flats to seek help in temperatures reaching 116 degrees Fahrenheit. After walking just over a mile, Formosa was unable to continue. His companion found a passing motorist and reported the incident at a visitor center around 2 p.m. on August 17. National Park Service rangers and emergency responders launched a search and rescue operation and located Formosa, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Death Valley temperatures reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit during incident
On August 17, temperatures in Death Valley National Park reached 116 degrees Fahrenheit, contributing to the conditions that led to the death of the stranded tourist. This extreme heat made the trek across the salt flats life-threatening for the individuals who became stranded.
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