2025 Wave Cave incident

On May 11, 2025, a 33-year-old man died during a hiking trip on the Wave Cave Trail in the Superstition Mountains near Gold Canyon, Arizona, United States. The man was part of a group of five hikers who had been on the trail for approximately six hours when they began experiencing heat-related distress due to the extreme temperatures.
Background
The Wave Cave is a natural sandstone formation located in the Superstition Mountains near Gold Canyon, Arizona. It is best known for a distinctive rock feature at the cave’s entrance that resembles a curling ocean wave, which has made it a popular destination for hikers and photographers.
The trail to the Wave Cave begins at the Carney Springs Trailhead and covers approximately 3.2 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of around 872 feet. While the initial portion of the trail is relatively flat, it becomes significantly steeper and more challenging closer to the cave. The route is marked by white arrows and requires some physical effort, particularly in the final stretch.
The incident
On Sunday, May 11, 2025, a 33-year-old man died while hiking the Wave Cave Trail in the Superstition Mountains near Gold Canyon, Arizona. He was part of a group of five hikers who had been on the trail for approximately six hours when they began experiencing heat-related issues. Around 12:45 PM , the group called 911 for assistance. Despite CPR efforts by a bystander and emergency responders from the Superstition Fire & Medical District and Mesa Fire, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The other four hikers were assisted off the mountain and declined further medical treatment. Authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected, and the Pinal County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death.
Rescue Operation
Emergency responders from Superstition Fire & Medical District and Mesa Fire arrived, utilizing all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), brush trucks, and helicopters to reach the hikers and assist with evacuation.<ref name=":0" />

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