A 65-year-old man died this week at the Grand Canyon after slipping over the edge and falling more than 100 feet, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The incident occurred in the Guano Point area of Grand Canyon West.
According to the sheriff’s office, the man “slipped and fell over the edge into the canyon and was deceased.” Their search and rescue team was called around 2 p.m. Thursday to “assist the Hualapai Nation in a technical recovery.”
The team located the man approximately 130 feet down on a scree pile. Technical rope specialists then set up a system to safely lower and raise a recovery basket, transporting the body to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The identity of the man has not been released.
The sheriff’s office also shared images showing first responders lowering the basket into the canyon during the recovery operation.
“A 65-year-old man slipped and fell over the edge into the canyon and was pronounced deceased,” the sheriff’s office’s search and rescue team said, noting that first responders lowered a basket into the canyon to recover the victim.
“Assisting in the recovery were the Hualapai Tribal Police Department, Hualapai Nation Fire, and Grand Canyon West Security — thank you for your support,” the team added. “Our condolences go out to his family. Please respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
The incident follows a similar tragedy in September, when a Colorado man died after his car went over the edge of the rim at Grand Canyon National Park, plunging hundreds of feet.
According to the National Park Service, rangers responded immediately after learning the vehicle, carrying a single occupant, had gone over the rim near the South Kaibab Trailhead. His body was recovered approximately 300 feet below the rim.
“Technical rope specialists set up a system to lower and raise the body using ropes, recovering him and transporting him to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the team said.
The National Park Service identified the man as Steven “Drew” Bradley, 27, of Federal Heights, Colorado.
Bradley’s body was airlifted by helicopter to the rim before being transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Arizona.
