This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/11/world/europe/a-french-couples-love-for-the-american-west-ends-in-tragedy.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
A French Couple’s Love for the American West Ends in Tragedy A French Couple’s Love for the American West Ends in Tragedy
(1 day later)
PARIS — The family from France was so enthralled by their last visit to the American West that they started planning another almost immediately. On Facebook, they posted pictures of the vast blue skies, the rugged ocher canyons and the endless strips of asphalt that had captivated them.PARIS — The family from France was so enthralled by their last visit to the American West that they started planning another almost immediately. On Facebook, they posted pictures of the vast blue skies, the rugged ocher canyons and the endless strips of asphalt that had captivated them.
This year, David and Ornella Steiner, a couple from a quiet town near Reims, about 100 miles east of Paris, returned, starting in Seattle before heading to Santa Fe. A picture posted on Aug. 2 on Mr. Steiner’s Facebook profile showed the vivid electric blue water of a natural pool in Yellowstone Park.This year, David and Ornella Steiner, a couple from a quiet town near Reims, about 100 miles east of Paris, returned, starting in Seattle before heading to Santa Fe. A picture posted on Aug. 2 on Mr. Steiner’s Facebook profile showed the vivid electric blue water of a natural pool in Yellowstone Park.
But it was at the White Sands National Monument of New Mexico, a region where beautiful landscapes can conceal dangers quick to surprise even the most prepared visitor, that the Steiners’ new trip took a terrible turn. Last week, the couple was found dead in the desert, apparently from heat-related exhaustion during a hike. Their 9-year-old son, Enzo, was the only one to survive, found alive by park rangers who believe his parents sacrificed water to save him. But it was at the White Sands National Monument of New Mexico, a region where beautiful landscapes can conceal dangers quick to surprise even the most prepared visitor, that the Steiners’ new trip took a terrible turn. Last week, the couple were found dead in the desert, apparently from heat-related exhaustion during a hike. Their 9-year-old son, Enzo, was the only one to survive, found alive by park rangers who believe that his parents sacrificed water to save him.
The French Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the boy arrived in France over the weekend with his grandmother, who had flown to Albuquerque to bring him home. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the boy arrived in France over the weekend with his grandmother, who had flown to Albuquerque to bring him home.
Kim Duntze, who worked with Ms. Steiner at the Reims town hall, said in a telephone interview that news of the couple’s death had shocked her co-workers, who all knew about the trip because Ms. Steiner had been planning it for over a year and had discussed it frequently at the office.Kim Duntze, who worked with Ms. Steiner at the Reims town hall, said in a telephone interview that news of the couple’s death had shocked her co-workers, who all knew about the trip because Ms. Steiner had been planning it for over a year and had discussed it frequently at the office.
“They had fallen in love with the area,” Ms. Duntze said. “It was their dream project.”“They had fallen in love with the area,” Ms. Duntze said. “It was their dream project.”
The bodies of Mr. Steiner, 42, and his wife Ornella, 51, were found by park rangers last week during a routine patrol. Sheriff Benny House of Otero County told The Alamogordo Daily News on Saturday that two empty 20-ounce water bottles were found with the bodies but that the boy told investigators the bottles were full when the family started the hike. The bodies of Mr. Steiner, 42, and his wife, Ornella, 51, were found by park rangers on Aug. 4 during a routine patrol. In an online article in The Alamogordo Daily News on Friday, Sheriff Benny House of Otero County, N.M., said that two empty 20-ounce water bottles were found with the bodies but that the boy told investigators that the bottles were full when the family started the hike.
“The father and mother would take one drink while they made the child take two swallows of water,” Sheriff House said. “It might have been why the child fared so well due to his smaller stature, plus he probably consumed more water than they did.”“The father and mother would take one drink while they made the child take two swallows of water,” Sheriff House said. “It might have been why the child fared so well due to his smaller stature, plus he probably consumed more water than they did.”
Ms. Duntze, who is a deputy mayor at the Reims town hall and who worked with Ms. Steiner on youth policies, said that Ms. Steiner did not strike her as someone who would take inconsiderate risks. Ms. Duntze, who is a deputy mayor at the Reims town hall and who worked with Ms. Steiner on youth policies, said Ms. Steiner did not strike her as someone who would take inconsiderate risks.
“When Plan A didn’t work, she always had a Plan B and a Plan C,” Ms. Duntze said, adding that Ms. Steiner was also very protective of her son and would not have put him in harm’s way. Ms. Steiner also had two older children from a previous marriage, Ms. Duntze said. “When Plan A didn’t work, she always had a Plan B and a Plan C,” said Ms. Duntze, adding that Ms. Steiner was also very protective of her son and would not have put him in harm’s way. Ms. Steiner also had two older children from a previous marriage, Ms. Duntze said.
But Sheriff House said the investigation showed that the family arrived at the White Sands National Monument around midday, when temperatures peak, and set out shortly before 1 p.m. on the Alkali Flat Trail. Sheriff House said the investigation showed that the family arrived at the White Sands National Monument around midday, when temperatures peak, and set out shortly before 1 p.m. on the Alkali Flat Trail.
Temperatures on the trail, a 4.6-mile loop that leads hikers through stunning white sand dunes with no water, no shade and sparse vegetation, can sometimes exceed 100 degrees.Temperatures on the trail, a 4.6-mile loop that leads hikers through stunning white sand dunes with no water, no shade and sparse vegetation, can sometimes exceed 100 degrees.
“Heat-related illness is common in warm weather and can be fatal,” the National Park Service warns on a page of its website devoted to the trail. “Hike during cool times. Carry food and at least two quarts of water.” A woman from Iowa died while hiking the monument in 2011, as did a Japanese businessman in 2009, according to The Alamogordo Daily News.“Heat-related illness is common in warm weather and can be fatal,” the National Park Service warns on a page of its website devoted to the trail. “Hike during cool times. Carry food and at least two quarts of water.” A woman from Iowa died while hiking the monument in 2011, as did a Japanese businessman in 2009, according to The Alamogordo Daily News.
Sheriff House said the family had not signed in on a register at the entrance to the trail. After Ms. Steiner was found unresponsive by park rangers on a routine patrol, tracks led them to Mr. Steiner and his son.Sheriff House said the family had not signed in on a register at the entrance to the trail. After Ms. Steiner was found unresponsive by park rangers on a routine patrol, tracks led them to Mr. Steiner and his son.
Sheriff House said the investigation showed that Ms. Steiner began to slow during the hike but told her husband and son to continue, after which Mr. Steiner also began to slow down, appearing disoriented, and collapsed. The boy stayed beside his father until he was found by the park authorities and taken to a nearby medical center to be treated for dehydration.Sheriff House said the investigation showed that Ms. Steiner began to slow during the hike but told her husband and son to continue, after which Mr. Steiner also began to slow down, appearing disoriented, and collapsed. The boy stayed beside his father until he was found by the park authorities and taken to a nearby medical center to be treated for dehydration.
A preliminary autopsy report by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator indicated that the couple died of a heat-related illness, Sheriff House told The Alamogordo Daily News.A preliminary autopsy report by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator indicated that the couple died of a heat-related illness, Sheriff House told The Alamogordo Daily News.
The Steiner family lived in Bourgogne, a small suburb of Reims, where David Steiner ran a local public relations firm. Alain Steiner, Mr. Steiner’s father, told the daily Le Parisien that the couple often traveled abroad and that his son was passionate about photography.The Steiner family lived in Bourgogne, a small suburb of Reims, where David Steiner ran a local public relations firm. Alain Steiner, Mr. Steiner’s father, told the daily Le Parisien that the couple often traveled abroad and that his son was passionate about photography.
“For a week everything went well,” Mr. Steiner said. “I spoke with my son over the phone every day.”“For a week everything went well,” Mr. Steiner said. “I spoke with my son over the phone every day.”
“The trip was supposed to last five weeks,” Mr. Steiner added.“The trip was supposed to last five weeks,” Mr. Steiner added.