James Bernard Hendricks was found dead at Arches National Park in Utah (Picture: AP)
A body found at Arches National Park has been identified as a man who traveled there to spread his father’s ashes and died of a heat stroke.
James ‘Jimmy’ Bernard Hendricks, 66, was hiking at the Utah park and likely got disoriented due to heat, the high altitude and dehydration, said his sisters Ia Hendricks and Ruth Hendricks Brough.
He was an experienced hiker and was traversing the western states to the Sierra Nevada mountains, where he intended to release his dad’s ashes on a peak near Reno, Nevada, they said.
‘It was just a horrible crushing blow to everybody,’ she Brough. ‘He was the quintessential nature boy who went everywhere and did everything. He was so strong.’
James did not return and was reported overdue on August 1. Rangers found his car parked at a trailhead and he was found roughly 2 1/2 miles in from there.
The temperature in the area hit a high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit on July 29. James embarked on along hike in the morning and then went on a shorter hike, during which it is believed he died.
James was taking medication that may have caused dehydration, Brough said. His water bottle was found empty.
‘He was loved by countless people because he was an unusually kind, sweet person who made friends easily,’ Bough told the San Antonio Express-News. ‘Now all these people are grieving. It was a horrible shock.’
James’ death comes more than 20 years after his brother Ron Hendricks vanished around Lake Tahoe. The family was informed this year that the remains were identified as Ron through DNA testing.
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