A BRIT dad and his wife tragically died trying to save their baby as they succumbed to scorching 38C temperatures on a remote hike in California, according to a recent probe.
Cops were baffled by the mysterious deaths of Jonathan Gerrish, 45, his wife Ellen Chung, 31, their one-year-old daughter Muji and dog Oksi for months.
Investigators believe the family "died trying to save each other" as they waded through the stifling heat in the Sierra National Forest, known as Devil's Gulch, on August 17.
A survival trainer who contributed to the case wrote an email to detectives saying the couple were likely attempting to seek help for their daughter.
"Sadly, I believe they were caught off guard, and once they realized their situation, they died trying to save their child and each other,' the unidentified trainer wrote.
"It is likely the child began to succumb first, which hurried the parents' efforts up the hill.
"When one could no longer continue, they stayed behind to care for the child and pet, while the other tried to forge on and get help for their loved ones."
He described the young family's death as "a tragedy of the highest order," according to the San Fransisco Chronicle.
Authorities were initially left at a loss after the family were mysteriously found dead, but detectives soon ruled out homicide.
Other theories also included poisoning from toxic algae in nearby rivers or noxious gases from abandoned mines, as well as possible lightning strikes.
But it was determined that the high temperatures, rigorous terrain and a lack of shade and water led to their deaths.
The survival trainer described the combination of the terrain, elevation and heat as a "deadly trifecta".
Last month cops confirmed that Jonathon, who was originally from Lancashire and had worked for Google and Snapchat, Ellen and Muji had died of hyperthermia and probable dehydration.
The cause of death of their dog Oski was undetermined, although it is believed he also succumbed under similar circumstances.
The couple had reportedly moved to Mariposa from San Francisco to raise their daughter in "a quiet, slow-paced environment, surrounded by open-air and close to the mountains for hiking and camping adventures".
They had set out on a remote hiking trail close to the Merced River in the Sierra National Forest, before being reported missing by a concerned family friend.
Pals described the pair as experienced hikers but said they were relatively inexperienced in the area.
When that pain is compacted by lack of knowledge about their death, the questions of where, why, when and how fill the void, day and night.
Their bodies were located on August 17 two miles from their car in an area with no phone reception where temperatures had soared up to 38C.
The trio only had one empty water bottle with them – indicating that the symptoms relating to the rising temperature and a lack of sustenance likely contributed to their death.
According to Healthline, dehydration can cause dizziness brought on by extreme heat fatigue.
Meanwhile, hyperthermia is abnormally high body temperature caused by the failure of heat-regulating mechanisms.
Both can be fatal.
In a statement praising the efforts of the authorities, the family's loved ones said their "pain is beyond words".
"When that pain is compacted by lack of knowledge about their death, the questions of where, why, when and how fill the void, day and night.
"Some questions have been answered, and we will use this to help us come to terms with this.
"They will remain with us wherever we go, or whatever we do.
"In the future when we sit beneath the trees, hearing the wind soar beneath the branches, we will think of them and we will remember."
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