DUCHESNE COUNTY, Utah, August 5, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Boy Scout from Salem, Utah, died Saturday, two days after falling ill during a camping trip in the High Uintas.
According to Duchesne County Sheriff Lt. Jeremy Curry — the Scout, identified as Douglas Jeffrey Julian, 17 — was on a troop outing in the Chain Lakes area near Krebs Basin on Thursday, when he began to complain of a headache and being nauseous.
His condition did not improve throughout the day Friday, and Scout leaders decided to hike out of the campsite Saturday morning. One of the Scout leaders left camp early and hiked an estimated 8 to 10 miles before he was able to use a cellphone to call for help.
A LifeFlight helicopter was dispatched to the troop’s location but, according to Lt. Curry, the teenager had already passed away.
Scout leaders told investigators that Julian — who was to celebrate his 18th birthday Sunday — lost consciousness and collapsed about 50 yards from the troop’s campsite as they began hiking out Saturday morning.
Members of the troop immediately began CPR, but were unable to revive him.
Julian’s body was flown by medical helicopter to Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt. His body was then taken to the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
Lt. Curry described Julian as “a young, healthy teenager, who played high school sports and had no prior history of illness or medical problems. Investigators suspect he may have succumbed to altitude sickness,” Curry said.
Gephardt Daily will update this story as more information becomes available.
