British friends died in 50C desert valley hike near Dubai

Two friends died while hiking in up to 50C (122F) heat in a desert valley near Dubai, an inquest heard. Rescue teams discovered the bodies of Aran Martinson, 33, and Cassius Newton, 34, in the holy mountainous region of Wadi Naqab on 18 July. The men, from Essex and Dorset respectively, both worked in the United Arab Emirates and had set off for their trek at about 07:00 local time (04:00 BST). Opening an inquest in Chelmsford, area coroner Michelle Brown said their provisional causes of death included cardiac and respiratory arrest. Severe rising body temperature and organ failure, and heat stress due to exposure to high temperature were also factors in their deaths, Brown added. Newton, a non-league footballer, was the son of former Chelsea star and assistant manager Eddie Newton. The club said it was "devastated" to learn of his death in a statement on Friday. Both he and Martinson lived in the luxury resort of Ras Al Khaimah, about 75 miles (120km) north of Dubai. Newton's wife, who was in the UK, reported him missing when he failed to contact her after beginning the hike, Essex Coroner's Court heard. "It appears they'd gone on a route that's a recreational route not needing cl