Grieving Mom Sends Out Warning After Son's Hike Ends In His Death

Apr 01, 2019 by apost team

Reid Comita was a fifteen-year-old that loved being a member of the boy scouts. Reid's mother, Copper Comita, said to CBS News that each day her son would come home he would be excited to recount his latest boy scout achievement.

Reid was one badge away from earning the eagle scout status he wanted so badly.

His mother, Copper Comita, told CBS News, “Every time he walked through that door, he was very excited to show me, ‘Look what I got mom!’”

He signed up for a backpacking excursion to earn the last badge he needed. Reid was supposed to be a part of a beginners backpacking trip but somehow ended up with a group that traveled a difficult course in 99-degree weather. The teen ended up suffering from heatstroke under the unrelenting West Texas sun. Reid collapsed seven miles into the trip and paramedics were unable to locate his position. When first responders finally found Reid and his group, he had to be airlifted to the hospital. Despite their efforts, Reid died of a heatstroke.

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It has been a little over eighteen months since the tragedy and Copper Comita has now decided to start an awareness program for heatstrokes. She said the largest part of her effort is simply making people aware of the fact that excessive heat is a danger to anyone.

“Heat stroke can affect anybody put in a position of excessive heat,” she told KDFW.

Copper explains that it is possible to prevent heat strokes. However, she explains that once an individual crosses the threshold from heat exhaustion to heat stroke, the situation is very tough to recover from.

The discomfort can quickly progress from head and stomach aches to extreme nausea and confusion.

The best course of action if you feel these symptoms while outside in the heat is to find shelter from the sun. You can also drink more water but this solution works best for people who were generally well-hydrated before becoming distressed by the heat. Copper explains if planning a hiking or backpacking trip in the near future, you should begin drinking extra water a few days before the excursion.

Copper knows nothing will ever return her son to her. However, she is determined to make sure she spares other mothers the pain she feels. She also says it is a new experience for her to talk about her son without crying. She says she would break down each time she uttered his name for a year and a half after Reid's death.

Were you saddened by the loss Copper experienced? Do you feel she is doing a good thing with her heatstroke awareness campaign? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to your friends and family. They will thank you for raising their awareness of the issue.