In regards to a heat stroke and not being able to make decisions. I have had two verifiable heat strokes, one putting me in a coma and one last year that was less severe of the symptoms I was exhibiting when I got to the ER. The liver and kidney failures, heat & lung cramping was more demanding of attention.

The decision making process that puts a body into a severely dehydrated state should not be misunderstood as a person being unable to make at least one smart decision.

This may be difficult to express correctly but from my experience and from my own research with others and their stories over almost two decades, I do not think it is unreasonable for someone with a PLB to activate it if they were physically able too up to the point of mental unconsciousness. Meaning, that there is a point between realizing the body is in a bitter state and having a window to take certain steps to attempt a correction.

This correction is not something I would consider as adequate to compensate for the condition since most likely an IV is required and medication for nausea/vomiting, but reaching shade is certainly possible and as gross a motor skill as would be needed to activate a PLB if it was responsibly placed on the body.

BUT, there is no need to progress through all the levels of heat injury before reaching a level of physical immobility. Even with simple dehydration a person can drop unconscious. Be that as it may, I know from experience that I ignored my symptoms until I was overcome but I still would have had the ability to punch the button when I reached that realization.

Everyone's issue with heat is different and this seems like a horrible back country accident on what should have been a happy day. Hopefully the widow will have some answers with the autopsy.