Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — A deadly weekend for hikers in Utah has left three people dead in less than 48 hours.
On Friday, a father and daughter died of heat exhaustion in Canyonlands National Park. The following day, temperatures soared past 110 degrees at Snow Canyon State Park, claiming the life of a young woman and leaving her parents in critical condition.
Belyruth Ordonez, a 30-year-old woman who moved to Utah for the church community, died during a family hike in Snow Canyon on Saturday. The extreme heat proved fatal, and her parents, Dario and Humbelina Ordonez, are now in critical condition.
"She was just trying to have a good time with her family," said Marlon Olaya, a close friend. "It was just really hard to believe."
Belyruth Ordonez was known for her willingness to serve others.
"She was always just very welcoming. She was very humble, she was very happy ... and she was always putting others first," said Yeraoldine Calderon, a close friend of the family.
Ordonez moved to Utah for the close-knit church community, where deep bonds turned her friends into family. Her life was cut short on a day meant for family bonding. Rescuers found Dario and Humbelina Ordonez in distress shortly after a hiker discovered Belyruth Ordonez's body nearby.
"We were in shock," Calderon said.
"I was in disbelief," Olaya shared, reflecting on the sudden loss.
The devastating news has left loved ones grappling with the painful uncertainty of Belyruth Ordonez's final moments.
"I feel like my imagination has really created this scenario, a really hard scenario to imagine and picture," Olaya said.
The community's focus is now on praying for Ordonez's parents, who are fighting for their lives while also facing the unimaginable grief of losing their only child.
"One of Belyruth's fear was to leave her parents alone and just being able to be there for the parents," Olaya said.
Friends and close community members are now asking for support to help cover funeral and medical expenses.*
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
