Woman Dead, Parents in a Coma After Hiking in Extreme Heat: ‘Just Trying to Have a Good Time’

Scorching temperatures have left a 30-year-old woman dead and her parents in critical condition following a family hike in Utah. 

Belyruth Ordóñez went for a hike at Snow Canyon State Park with her parents, Dario and Humbelina Ordóñez, on Saturday, July 13. Temperatures that day reached more than 100 degrees.

“All of them suffered severe heat exhaustion. Heartbreakingly, Belyruth Ordóñez, their only child, lost consciousness and passed away. Dario Ordóñez (65) and his wife Humbelina (63) Ordóñez are currently in the ICU, valiantly fighting for their lives,” a message on a GoFundMe account for the family reads.

Friends of Belyruth told local news outlet KSL News the 30-year-old moved to the area for the close-knit church community and she eventually formed close bonds with those in her circle. 

"She was just trying to have a good time with her family," her friend Marlon Olaya told KSL. "It was just really hard to believe."

Yeraoldine Calderon, who was close to the Ordóñez family, said Belyruth “was always just very welcoming.”

“She was very humble, she was very happy... and she was always putting others first," Calderon said.

"She loved to explore, so it wasn't shocking that they were hiking," Calderon told KUTZ. 

A search and rescue team found the family after being alerted at 3:30 p.m. by a caller who mentioned two hikers who were suffering from heat-related stress. 

The Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department said in a press release “a unified team comprising the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Santa Clara -Ivins Fire and Rescue, Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department, State Park Rangers, and Gold Cross worked together” and located Dario and Humbelina.

Dario and Humbelina were treated for heat exhaustion and first responders transported them by ambulance to St. George Regional Hospital. 

However, as the parents were receiving medical care before being transported, a hiker who was passing by informed the search and rescue team that a third person, later identified as Belyruth, was lying unconscious a short distance away. 

Belyruth was dead when the police found her. 

“As temperatures soar, it's absolutely vital to maintain a regular intake of water, especially when outdoors," the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department said in its press release. "Dehydration can lead to serious health issues, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Remember, your body may still need water even if you don't feel thirsty. Watch for signs of dehydration, like dizziness or excessive fatigue. Stay safe and well-hydrated.”

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Devan Chavez, associate director of Utah State Parks, also urged visitors to exercise caution. 

“People often overestimate their abilities, head out and think, ‘Oh, I’m just going to be gone a short while. I only need one bottle of water’ or ‘I have experience and have hiked a lot,’" Chavez told the Salt Lake Tribune. “But even the most experienced hikers can run into problems out there.”

“We do our best to help visitors make informed decisions about the parks they plan on visiting," Chavez wrote in a separate statement to PEOPLE. "Our parks also share similar messages and updates on their individual social media accounts.”