Tragic Boat Incident Claims Life of 80-Year-Old at Grand Canyon National Park

An elderly man visiting Grand Canyon National Park experienced a tragic incident while on the Colorado River. The 80-year-old visitor's boat capsized, leading to his subsequent death, as reported by park officials. The unfortunate occurrence took place on Sunday at approximately 3:40 p.m. near Fossil Rapid on the river. The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center was promptly notified about an emergency via satellite phone regarding the man's entry into the river after the boat flipped and provided that he was being administered with CPR.

Despite the relentless efforts of his companions and park rangers who were swiftly airlifted to the scene, all attempts at resuscitation proved fruitless, as revealed by the National Park Service in a news release. The authorities have not disclosed the identity of the victim, and the circumstances surrounding his demise are currently under investigation by both the park service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner. This incident has been identified as the fourth fatality at the park within the same month, as per the announcements made by the park thus far.

Discovery of the Body

On the same Sunday, at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time, a commercial river trip discovered the body of 33-year-old Chenoa Nickerson from Gilbert, Arizona, in the Colorado River. Nickerson had been reported missing following a flash flood that struck Havasu Canyon on August 22. Park officials indicated that her body was located nearly 20 miles away from the affected area.

Previous Fatalities

In a series of regrettable events, the park witnessed another tragic discovery on August 6, when the body of 20-year-old Leticia A. Castillo from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was found 150 feet below the rim of Twin Overlooks along Desert View Drive after an extensive search lasting several days. It is believed that she had entered the Grand Canyon on or around August 3, and the exact circumstances leading to her death remain unclear.