Grand Canyon: Man’s Death Marks Fifth in Under a Month

An 80-year-old man tragically lost his life on Sunday while navigating the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon after his boat capsized and he was thrown into the rapids. This incident marks the fifth fatality in the park in under a month, raising concerns about visitor safety.

The National Park Service reported that rangers were alerted to the emergency by a tour group on the river. They informed officials around 3:40 p.m. via a satellite phone that the elderly man had fallen into the water due to the boat overturning at a challenging section known as Fossil Rapid. While attempts to administer CPR were underway, neither the tour group members nor the park rangers, who arrived via helicopter, were able to revive him. The man’s identity has not yet been publicly released.

Following the incident, the National Park Service announced that they are conducting an investigation alongside the Coconino County Medical Examiner to better understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event. An inquiry was made by CBS News for further details, but a response was not immediately provided by park representatives.

This unfortunate event adds to a string of fatalities within the national park, which began on July 31. On the same day as the elderly man’s incident, another victim was found in the Colorado River. A group of visitors discovered the body of 33-year-old Chenoa Nickerson from Gilbert, Arizona. She had gone missing several days prior after being swept away by a flash flood in Havasu Canyon, which is nearly 20 miles away from where her body was located.

Earlier in August, park officials reported the discovery of another body, identified as Leticia Castillo, a 20-year-old from Albuquerque. Her remains were found about 150 feet below a spot known as Twin Overlooks. Investigators believe she had likely been missing for about three days prior to the retrieval of her body.

Shortly before Castillo’s body was found, authorities discovered the remains of a BASE jumper who had apparently fallen to his death. This individual, whose identity remains unknown, was attempting a jump from Yavapai Point—an area that stands approximately 4,600 feet above the river level. His body was located about 500 feet below the rim, next to a deployed parachute. The National Park Service emphasized that BASE jumping is illegal in the Grand Canyon due to the high risks involved.

Additionally, at the end of July, another visitor, 20-year-old Abel Joseph Mejia from North Carolina, died after accidentally falling from the canyon’s edge near Pipe Creek Overlook, with his body found 400 feet below the rim. Authorities have reiterated the importance of safety, urging visitors to keep a minimum distance of six feet from the canyon’s edge.

In total, at least 13 individuals have died within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park this year. These incidents serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers associated with the park’s rugged terrain and natural elements.