A Virginia Man Was Pronounced Dead After He Became Unresponsive Sunday On The North Kaibab Trail

A hiker from Virginia became unresponsive and later passed away Saturday afternoon while hiking on the North Kaibab Trail, one mile south of the Cottonwood Campground. National Park Service officials say they received a call at around 1:55 p.m. from the hiker, who was in distress. Soon after the call, the hiker became unresponsive and bystanders initiated CPR. When Search and Rescue personnel arrived, attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful and was pronounced dead. The hiker has been identified as 55-year-old Ranjith Varma of Manassas, Virginia, who was hiking from the South Rim to the North Rim in a single day. In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120 degrees in the shade. NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are conducting an investigation into his death.