11 Hikers Rescued, 1 Taken To Hospital
A rescue team brought 11 young men and women down safely off the Franklin Mountain range on Saturday afternoon.
The hikers, comprised of six women and five men all in their 20, had spent roughly eight hours near the Tom Mays Trail before being rescued after reporting dehydration and fatigue.
According to Stormtrack Weather Meteorologist Jennifer Myers, the temperatures had risen to 100 degrees during the time the group was stranded in the mountains. Texas Park Rangers and El Paso firefighters report that the group ran out of the water and called for help.
One victim, an unidentified female, was taken to University Medical Center to be treated for heat exhaustion, but is said to remain in stable condition.
With the high temperatures on Saturday, which are expected to last the rest of the week, firefighters are warning hikers to remember to always carry a minimum of one gallon of water per person in your group, carry a cell phone in case of emergencies and to never leave the trail.
A rescue team reported that since the 11 hikers involved in Saturday’s rescue didn’t stray from the trail it made it easier to locate and help the group. However, they were found approximately two miles into the trail.
