U.S. citizenĀ Paul Thomas Walter, 62, died of a heart attack March 13 while hiking on a trail near Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park. He was one of two U.S. hikers who died on trails here that day in unrelated incidents.
According to a statement from the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), Walter and his wife left their hotel lastĀ Friday morning in La Fortuna, inĀ Alajuela province.
When Walter began feeling illĀ on the trail, hisĀ wife and other hikers tried to assist him and called the Red Cross. However, rescue crews foundĀ him dead upon theirĀ arrival, OIJ stated.
Analysts at theĀ National Forensics Laboratory in Heredia province confirmed that Walter died of a myocardial infraction at aroundĀ 11:20 a.m.
Another U.S. man, Michael Lee Kathrein, 62, died under similar circumstances on the main trail in ChirripĆ³ National Park, Costa Ricaās highest mountain.
Officials of the National System of Conservation Areas said Kathrein had not registered with park administrators to enter the area, as regulations require.
