Urban explorer dies of thirst amid hot temperatures, companion arrested
Dehydration can occur in as little as 30 minutes in temperatures exceeding 30C.
A 25-year-old urban explorer from France died earlier this month from dehydration amid scorching temperatures while attempting to reach Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, a restricted spaceport Russia uses to launch its rockets.
According to the Daily Mail, citing Russia's RIA news service, a companion to the deceased, 27, was taken into police custody.
Temperatures were in the low-to-mid 30s(C) at the time of the incident.
Russia rents the cosmodrome and visitors generally aren't allowed to the site, but tours are available for people to see spacecraft launches. Built in 1955, it was the first space launch facility on the planet, serving as the launch site for Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite, and Vostok 1, the first human orbital spaceflight.
Dehydration can happen quickly in hot temperatures
Dehydration, a condition that can be prevented, can occur in as little as 30 minutes in temperatures exceeding 30C, especially when combined with physical activity.
Excessive sweating, lack of shade, heat-trapping clothing, and inadequate hydration before heat exposure can speed up the process.
While anyone is vulnerable to dehydration in hot weather, children, the elderly, and people of all ages with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk.
Header image: File photo of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Wikipedia/Public Domain
