Authorities have warned hikers to be prepared for hot weather in Central Australia after a 22-year-old man died and two different groups of people required assistance for heat stress within a week.
The man collapsed last Wednesday on the Larapinta Trail between Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap.
His friends attempted CPR before another group of hikers arrived with a satellite phone and called emergency services.
A helicopter was sent to the area but the man died at the scene.
Last Thursday, St John Ambulance paramedics assisted a group of walkers on the trail near Euro Ridge who were suffering from dehydration.
On Monday, four students from a large school group received assistance on the Larapinta Trail near Simpsons Gap due to dehydration and heat-related illness.
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded a maximum of 33.2 degrees Celsius at Alice Springs Airport on Wednesday last week, while Thursday it reached just over 30C.
Temperatures rose again on Monday to nearly 36C.
Hike before the heat
Mr Garraway said people using the trails should carry a minimum of three litres of water and walk early in the morning when the temperature was cooler.
"Communication is really, really important," he said.
"Let someone know where you're going to be and when you should be out."
Mr Garraway said it had been a busier-than-usual start to the tourist season in Central Australia and asked holiday-makers to be careful when driving long distances.
"A lot of people are going to be on the road driving long distances … we want to keep that road toll to zero moving forward," Mr Garraway said.
"Please be careful.
"Take your time and give yourself plenty of time to get to where you need to be."
