Man dies in Grand Canyon national park while attempting grueling hike

Ranjith Varma, 55, of Manassas, Virginia, was unresponsive about halfway through 18-mile hike amid temperatures of 100F

A 55-year-old man died while hiking in Grand Canyon national park on Saturday, park service officials have announced.

The hiker, identified as Ranjith Varma from Manassas, Virginia, died while attempting an 18-mile trek from the south rim of the canyon to the north rim. Varma was hiking with a party of six people and about halfway through their walk through the inner canyon, the lowest part of the hike, he became unresponsive. Emergency crews were called and bystanders began CPR, according to a press release from the national park service (NPS).