A DEPUTY headteacher has died after collapsing of dehydration while hiking in extreme heat in California.
Ruth Ross, 56, became overcome by the soaring temperatures while on a hiking trip in Palm Springs with her 59-year-old husband Chris.
The pair had set off around 7.30am on Monday morning on the South Lykken Trail but Mr Ross called emergency services less than three hours later after they were left too exhausted to walk any further.
He reported that they were low on water, suffering from dehydration and that his wife had became unconscious.
A helicopter was scrambled to the area to airlift mother-of-three Mrs Ross, a deputy head at Airdrie Academy in North Lanarkshire to hospital, but she died after arrival.
Her husband was also airlifted and remains in hospital in a stable condition. Palm Springs Police Department said the couple, from Hamilton, were holidaying in the desert city.
Prayers were said for the couple at their church, Parkhead Nazarene, in the east end of Glasgow.
A message on the church's Facebook page said: "Late last night we received the tragic news that Ruth Ross passed away suddenly while on holiday in California with her husband Chris.
"It has been such difficult news to hear and feel. We're coming together throughout the day at church to support one another and pray for Chris and the family."
The temperature in the area where the couple were hiking at about 10am was 98 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the US's National Weather Service. It rose to 101 degrees by 11am.
Mrs Ross' death has prompted the police force to issue a warning to hikers setting out in high temperatures.
A spokesman for Palm Springs Police Department said: "On Monday, June 29, 2015 at about 10:18 AM, a hiker called 911 from the South Lykken Trail, reporting that he and his wife could no longer hike due to overheating and dehydration.
"The male also reported that they were low on water and the female had became unconscious. Palm Springs Police Department, Palm Springs Fire Department, and the Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue personnel responded to the area.
"An airplane and a CAL FIRE helicopter responded to the area to assist with the rescue. The air units located the hikers on the South Lykken Trail, in the mountains northwest of the intersection of South Palm Canyon Drive and Murray Canyon Drive.
"The CAL FIRE helicopter airlifted the female directly to a local hospital in critical condition. Rescue personnel hiked approximately 35 minutes into the area.
"The male hiker was airlifted to a nearby area before being transported to a local hospital by ambulance in stable condition. The 56 year old female hiker later died at a local hospital. The 59 year old male remains hospitalised in stable condition.
"Both hikers were visiting the area from Scotland and had began their hike in the area of Murray Canyon Drive and South Palm Canyon Drive at approximately 7:30 AM."
He added: "Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue handles dozens of calls like this one every year and would like to remind everyone that with higher temperatures, the risk of hiking in these treacherous mountains increases.
"They recommend that every hiker be well-hydrated and in good physical condition before beginning the hike and should have several liters of water each. They should always tell a friend where they are going, dress appropriately in bright colors and carry a cell phone with a strong battery."
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