The Coconono County, Ariz., medical examiner says a Phoenix youth enrolled in a wilderness survival program died naturally, of peritonitis, an inflammation of the abdomen caused by a perforated ulcer.
Aaron Bacon, 16, died near the Hole in the Rock Road in Garfield County, 15 miles southeast of Escalante, while he was part of the North Star Expeditions program for troubled youths."The medical examiner said we would not have seen these symptoms, we would not have known it was going on," said Bill Henry, North Star vice president. A physical examination March 7 of the boy also showed no problems.
Bacon complained of stomach pains and weakness Wednesday night before going to bed. The next day he ate breakfast and was given baking soda to calm his stomach.
While riding in the rear seat of a pickup truck, Bacon asked to use the restroom. When the counselor stopped to help him out of the truck, he found Bacon unconscious and not breathing.