A French tourist visiting Death Valley National Park passed away on 17 August 2026. As a car accident forced Pierre Michel Formosa and a friend to go look for help on foot, the extreme temperatures proved fatal for the Frenchman.
On Monday, 17 August 2026, 68-year-old Pierre Michel Formosa and his travel companion were visiting Death Valley National Park. While driving the West Side Road, their vehicle became stuck in the mud in the area near Queen of Sheba Mine Road.
As no other people were around at the time, Formosa and his friend decided to walk across the salt flats toward Badwater Road in order to look for help. After having walked approximately 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometres) in 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius), the Frenchman indicated that he could not go on.
Seeking assistance, his travel companion eventually reached Badwater Road, where he was able to get help from a passing motorist who took him to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Once he reached the centre around 2:00 pm, National Park Service rangers and an Inyo County deputy immediately started a search and rescue operation, assisted by a California Highway Patrol helicopter.
Later that same afternoon, Pierre Michel Formosa was found 1.5 miles from Badwater Road. Sadly, all help came too late, and the Frenchman was pronounced dead at the scene. The Inyo County coroner has been commissioned to determine the cause and manner of death.
“Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the visitor who died. This is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly conditions here can turn dangerous. Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience. We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the search, and our thoughts are with his loved ones,” stated Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds.
Death Valley National Park, established in 1916, is located on the California–Nevada border. The park is known for its very particular climate and is the hottest, driest, and lowest of all the national parks in the United States, often beating its own records in terms of extreme weather.
Moreover, due to its remote nature, cell service is limited or nonexistent in large parts of the park, and emergency help can be hours away. All visitors are thus urged to be well-prepared when visiting the area. The Death Valley National Park Service advises the following:
- Plan your route in advance and check current road and weather conditions.
- Tell someone your plans — where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- Carry ample water and supplies. The park recommends at least one gallon of water per person, per day, plus extra for vehicle emergencies.
- Match your vehicle to the road. Many backcountry roads require high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles, and conditions can change without warning.
- Bring a way to call for help where cell service may not reach, such as a satellite communicator or emergency beacon.
- If your vehicle becomes disabled, staying with it is often the safest choice. It provides shade and shelter, and it’s far easier for search teams to spot than a person on foot in open terrain.
- During periods of extreme heat, visitors are encouraged to stay on paved roads and avoid hiking at lower elevations.
