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Rocky Mountain National Park
Fatality in Rocky Mountain National Park-July 20

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Date: July 20, 2009
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363

Rocky Mountain National Park dispatch was notified at 10:30 a.m. by cell phone of CPR in progress below the summit of Longs Peak. A 62 year old man from Durango, Colorado, was roughly 110 yards from the summit of Longs Peak (14,259 feet) in the “Homestretch” area, when he had a cardiac emergency. Bystanders on scene performed CPR for approximately 30 minutes. It is unclear whether he had summited and was descending. He was hiking with a family member.

A park ranger reached the victim at 11:20 a.m. The victim’s body was flown to a helispot in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of the park at 3:25 p.m. His body was then transferred to the Boulder County Coroner. The victim’s name will not be released until next of kin are notified.

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Did You Know?
In 1915, Congress created Rocky Mountain, the nation's 10th national park. Congress created the National Park Service in 1916.

Last Updated: July 21, 2009 at 12:40 EST