French Tourist Dies in Death Valley Salt Flats After Vehicle Stuck

A French national, aged 68, has been found dead in Death Valley National Park, California, after his rented car became immobilised in the salt flats. The man's body was discovered on Friday near Badwater Basin, an area experiencing extreme temperatures of up to 46.6C (116F).

Park officials initiated a search after receiving a report on Thursday evening that a vehicle was stuck in the mud. The man's body was located approximately 4km (2.5 miles) from the main road, not far from the stuck vehicle.

Authorities have indicated that the car had become lodged in the mud for several days, suggesting a prolonged period of exposure to the severe desert conditions. The specific cause of death remains under investigation, though the extreme heat is a significant factor.

Death Valley is notorious for its harsh environment, holding the record for the hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth at 56.7C (134F).