An Austin man, aged 69, tragically lost his life while hiking in Grand Canyon National Park, according to park officials who released this statement on Monday, as reported by KXAN. Scott Sims was on an excursion to reach Phantom Ranch for an overnight stay via the South Kaibab Trail when the incident took place this past Saturday.

The emergency unfolded near the River Trail midway between the Silver Bridge and the Black Bridge near Phantom Ranch; Sims became semiconscious around 7 p.m., evidence that the unforgiving elements of the canyon spare no one, not even the seasoned explorers among us. Reports indicated that Sims turned unresponsive shortly after and despite the prompt intervention of bystanders who administered CPR and the arrival of National Park Service paramedics from Phantom Ranch, none of the life-saving measures proved successful, as detailed by CBS Austin. The afternoon swelter in these precarious depths can soar past 120 degrees Fahrenheit even in the meager shade, a force not to be underestimated or braved unprepared.

Grand Canyon National Park has long cautioned against hiking in the inner canyon between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months when the sun hammers down on hikers with oppressive heat. In the wake of Sims' death, the park's message bears repeating as a somber reminder of nature's might against human limits.

Both the National Park Service and the Coconino County medical examiner are conducting an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sims' death to piece together the narrative of his final journey, and perhaps to glean learnings that could safeguard future hikers who dare to tread these ancient paths threading through the Arizona wilderness.