California biker dies after helping hungry hikers in searing heat: report

A California mountain biker died on Saturday while aiding four hikers who were without food or water, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The death occurred as record-shattering temperatures scorch vast swaths of Earth's surface, including the continental United States, where pockets of unprecedented atmospheric heat are smothering tens of millions of people.

"The ordeal began around 2:45 p.m. Saturday," the Union-Tribuneexplained, "when the mountain bikers called for help after encountering the hikers in the Carrizo Gorge area near DeAnza Springs, according to Cal Fire Capt. Brent Pascua, who said it was 106 degrees when firefighters arrived in the area."

The outlet continued, "A Cal Fire helicopter crew hoisted the four hikers to safety, Pascua said. Medical personnel checked all four of them and treated them at the scene, but none required hospitalization. After the helicopter rescue, the two mountain bikers who'd stayed with the hikers began riding back to the trailhead, but they became separated along the way, Pascua said. Only one of them made it back. When the other bikers set out to search for the missing man, they found him unconscious about a quarter-mile away, Pascua said. They carried him up the trail and placed him in an air-conditioned pickup until an ambulance arrived. But paramedics and firefighters were unable to revive the stricken rider, and he died at the scene at 5:45 p.m., Pascua said."

Pascua also stressed the importance of drinking "plenty of water" during outdoor activities.