Archaeological worker for Shreveport-based company dies of apparent heat-related incident
On July 11, an archaeological worker from Shreveport Culture Resources Analysts died suddenly due to an apparent heat-related incident.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office said that at approximately 2:14 p.m., Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Deputies, U.S. Forest Service Rangers, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #4, First Responders and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded to NATCOM 911 Center on reports of a female hiker possibly suffering from heat exhaustion off of Bayou Camp Road in Kisatchie National Forest.
Upon arrival, first responders located Kaylen Eileen Gehrke, 24, receiving CPR by two fellow co-workers. EMS attempted to continue resuscitation but their efforts were unsuccessful and Gehrke was pronounced dead at the scene by Natchitoches Parish Coroner's Office.
Natchitoches Parish Coroner's Office saw no signs of apparent foul play, they believe the manner of death was the result of heat.
The Shreveport National Weather Service reported that the temperature in that area was 98 degrees with heat indices near 107 degrees.
Gehrke a recent graduate from the University of Montana moved to Longview, Texas, to work with the Shreveport Cultural Resource Analysts. Monday was her first day on the job conducting archaeological surveys in the Kisatchie National Forest for the U.S. Forest Service.
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Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Shreveport based archaeological worker dies due to heat
