He had recently travelled from Perth and spent the day working around the camp. That night he began to vomit. The following day, working in the field with a companion in temperatures up to 41 degrees with very low humidity, he was unable to continue working and attempted to walk several hundred metres back to the party's vehicle. He took no water and never arrived at the vehicle. Some hours later a search found his body.
Heat stress causes increased sweating, depleting the body's fluid and causing heat intolerence.
Work capacity and efficiency are reduced, accompanied by tiredness, irritability, inattention and muscular cramps - all factors which increase the risk of accidents. Heat stroke is far more serious. The skin becomes hot and dry, and there may be confusion and loss of consiousness. Some people are more prone to heat stress, including those who are medically unfit, are overweight, suffer from heart disease, abuse alcohol and are not acclimatised. To reduce the risk of heat stress inside, insulate roofs, walls and other heat sources, duct hot exhaust outside, and provide fans, ventilation or air-conditioning.