A hiker was discovered “beyond resuscitative measures” on Saturday evening.
Phoenix Police said they received a complaint about a probable dead person along National Trail at 5:12 p.m. At around 7:15 p.m. on July 25, Phoenix Fire Department rescue units rushed to South Mountain after receiving reports of a person who was not moving.
Officers examined the area and discovered Richard Fletcher, 61, who was “obviously deceased.” Phoenix Fire said that “rescuers were able to hike to the patient, who was unfortunately beyond resuscitative measures.”
No obvious indicators of foul play or trauma were reported.
That evening, police received a call reporting a missing person near Central Avenue and Los Lomitas Drive. According to the caller, Fletcher went around 5 a.m. to go hiking and never returned. They claimed they lost cellular communication with him around 2 p.m., when Fletcher’s phone died.
Fletcher’s automobile was discovered vacant near the trailhead, at 4500 East Pima Canyon Road. According to police, the victim was discovered when a bicycle going along the trail stumbled across him.
On the next morning, July 26, Phoenix Air Rescue airlifted the victim from the trail. “Due to safety concerns while operating at night, the recovery of the victim’s body was scheduled for the morning,” the police department explained.
Investigators concluded that Fletcher’s condition was compatible with a heat-related or medical occurrence.
The specific cause of death is unknown.
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