Belgian Tourists Enter Hospital For Losing Flip-flops When Temperature In Death Valley Reaches 50 Degrees Celsius

Death Valley, California, US/UNSPLASH/Nick Rickert

JAKARTA - A tourist from Belgium is hospitalized in Las Vegas, United States after suffering third-degree burns to his leg while walking in the desert dune of the Death Valley valley, California.

The 42-year-old man lost a flip-flop while walking at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, officers from the National Park Service said.

At that time the air temperature at that time reached 123 degrees Fahrenheit or about 50 degrees Celsius. But park officials said the sand temperature would be much hotter.

The man's family asked for help and recruited other park visitors who took the man to the parking lot, according to an NPS statement reported by ABC News, Thursday, July 24.

"The parkkeeper decided that the man needed to be taken to the hospital immediately because of his burns and pain levels," he added.

During the evacuation effort, Mercy Air helicopters were unable to land safely in Death Valley due to extreme temperatures that could reduce lifts.

The park guard then carried the victim by ambulance to the landing zone at a higher altitude.

From there, the Belgian tourist was taken by Mercy Air to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

The park keeper recommended that summer tourists visiting the Death Valley National Park be within 10 minutes of walking from air-conditioned vehicles, not climbing after 10 am, drinking a lot of water, eating salted snacks and wearing hats and sunscreen, the National Park said.