Two men die during desert hike in Ras Al Khaimah

An inquest has heard that two men, Aran Martinson, 33, and Cassius Newton, 34, died while hiking in the Wadi Naqab desert valley in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on July 18.

Temperatures during the hike exceeded 40C. The men, who were living and working in the UAE, set out around 7am on a recreational route that did not require specialized equipment. Search teams located the men several kilometers from their vehicle; Mr. Newton was found approximately 350 meters away from Mr. Martinson.

Both men were taken to a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, where they were pronounced dead. The provisional medical cause of death for both individuals was recorded as cardiac and respiratory arrest, resulting from severe heat stress and rising body temperatures due to exposure to high temperatures.