A French couple who died during an afternoon hike across the searing New Mexico desert probably saved their nine-year-old son by giving him two sips of water for each one they took.
The boy was dehydrated but in remarkably good shape when he was found by park rangers alongside his dead father on a trail in the White Sands National Monument, Otero County Sheriff Benny House said.
The father and son were found on Tuesday about an hour after park rangers found the mother dead.
"That may be why he fared so well, is he was a lot smaller and probably had twice as much water," House said.
"He was well hydrated, compared to the other two."
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The couple appear to have died of heat-related causes after setting out in 38C degree heat with just two 566 gram water bottles, House said.
There is no vegetation or shade, and the National Park Service warns summertime visitors to hike only in the cool hours and carry at least 3.8 litres of water per person.
The boy's grandmother flew from France to be reunited with him.
