An elderly man tragically died in the Grand Canyon last weekend, marking the fifth death at the national park in this month alone.
The man, who was 80 years old at the time of the incident, drowned in a boating accident. He was floating along the Colorado River when his boat flipped, landing him in rapids. Park rangers were alerted about the accident after a group of tourists making their way on the river that an old man had fallen into the water in Fossil Rapid.
The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center was contacted by the boating group shortly after 3:30 in the afternoon on Sunday August 25. CPR was attempted in an effort to help the man, they said at the time of the call. Sadly, no tourist or park ranger—who arrived via helicopter to assist—were able to resuscitate the man. His name has not been revealed to the public.
The events leading up to his death are currently under investigation by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner. But the most recent death at the park is far from the first to occur this year or even this month. Since July 31, over a dozen people have died in various ways at the Canyon.
Other victims of tragic accidents in the Grand Canyon include Chenoa Nickerson, a 33-year-old who was swept away by a flash flood and found dead days later. Another woman was discovered after being missing for several days. Leticia Castillo, age 20, was believed to have fallen in a section known as Twin Overlooks.
Statistically, about 12 people die at the Grand Canyon every year. However, National Park Service data reveals that 2024 is pushing the limits, with 13 recorded deaths at the park as of this month. The same number died at the Grand Canyon in 2020, which was just over the 11 who passed away in both 2022 and 2023.
Between January and May 2024, though, there were less fatal accidents at the park compared to the same time frame for the past five years. They only reached higher rates compared to 2022 back in June.
