Visitor Death in Denali National Park

AAI just received the following email from Denali National Park:

James Brown, 48, of Coto de Caza, California died from what appear to be natural causes while participating in a ranger-led Discovery Hike near the Teklanika River on Wednesday, September 9, in spite of the lifesaving efforts by fellow hikers and rangers on scene.

The group was hiking east of Igloo Creek Campground near the Teklanika River when Brown suddenly collapsed at 12:45 p.m. After determining that Brown was in cardiac arrest, the ranger leading the hike immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), assisted by others in the group. He also notified the park communications center of the emergency by radio. Ranger-medics responded by helicopter and performed advanced cardiac life support measures in an attempt to restore a pulse, but were not successful.

Brown’s wife was accompanying him on the hike. His remains were released to a Fairbanks mortuary after consultation with the Office of the State Medical Examiner.