Missouri hiker who died in Badlands not part of social media challenge
Sister says was on a graduation trip
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota sheriff’s office is now backing off its claim that a Missouri man who died and another who was hospitalized after collapsing on a Badlands trail were taking part in a social media challenge.
The sister of Maxwell Right of St. Louis who died hiking in the Badlands says that her brother was camping as part of a trip to celebrate his college graduation when he became lost and ran out of water.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that Maxwell Right died in the park on Wednesday.
Right’s sister Lucille says her brother and a friend had broken camp in the park but got lost. Right called his parents, who called the National Park Service for help.
The sheriff’s office initially said Right and his friend were hiking a trail featured in a social media challenge, but later clarified to say they had been following a trail on a hiking app.
Lucille Right said her brother and his friend weren’t taking part in any challenge.