A 37-year-old backpacker died of unknown medical complications while hiking at a national park in Michigan on Monday, officials said.
The backpacker was a woman from Battle Creek, Michigan whose family has requested anonymity. She was hiking with a partner near LeSage Lake in the middle of Isle Royale when she “experienced sudden onset medical complications,” according to a statement from the National Park Service.
“As her condition deteriorated, she was eventually unable to walk, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing,” the statement continued. “CPR was provided but attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.”
Isle Royale National Park sits on an isolated island in Lake Superior. Due to the remote location, a park ranger and EMTs remained with the woman and her partner on Monday evening until a larger crew could transport her body back to the mainland on Tuesday morning, a park officer told NBC News.
The officer confirmed on Thursday that the investigation into her death is ongoing and no additional information is available.
According to National Park Service data, Isle Royale National Park recorded two deaths since 2007 before this one. Across the more than 420 national parks in the U.S., there are approximately 244 deaths per year.
