By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Two recreationists visiting in Juab County died of
apparent heart attacks in separate incidents on Friday and
Saturday, Aug. 25 and 26.
Ned Dunford, 54, Santaquin, died while hiking on
Friday and Walter Mason, 59, died on a camping trip.
Greg Gurney, Juab County Deputy Sheriff, was the
investigating officer for both deaths.
Dunford was hiking on Willow Creek Trail, east of Mona
on Mount Nebo, with a friend when he suffered an apparent
heart attack, collapsed and died.
"His friend administered CPR for quite awhile before
leaving him and hiking back down the trail to get help,"
said Gurney.
He said Dunford collapsed at about 5:30 p.m. but,
because of the hiking time involved, it was approximately
10:30 p.m. before Gurney arrived at the scene.
"His friend was exhausted from the trip," said Gurney.
"Mona Fire Department volunteers hiked up the mountain to
where Dunford was. They know the trail really well, which
was a big help."
The Juab Search and Rescue Team then followed the Mona
volunteers up the steep and rocky slope.
It took until about 3:30 a.m. to get Dunford, strapped
to a gurney, off the mountain.
"A helicopter couldn't be used because of the terrain
and the location," said Gurney. "We couldn't have rescued
Dunford's body if it hadn't been for the hard work of the
Mona Fire Department and Juab Search and Rescue
volunteers."
Once Dunford was brought from the mountain his body
was turned over to the state medical examiner's office for
verification of cause of death.
Walter Mason, 59, Payson, and his wife were camping at
Second Pond, in Salt Creek Canyon, when he suffered an
apparent heart attack and died.
The man died at approximately 8:20 p.m.
"His wife was outside the camper cooking and he was
inside," said Gurney. When she went to check on her husband
he was dead.
Gurney said the woman then went to a neighboring
camper who had a cell phone. The sheriff's office was called
and Gurney was dispatched.
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