Utah Man Dies in Fall at Zion National Park

A short fall in Zion National Park has killed a 55-year-old Utah man.

The fall occurred Friday afternoon in an unnamed side canyon off State Highway 9 just inside the park's eastern border. Rangers say the victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of family. The incident is currently under investigation by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the National Park Service.

A visitor who witnessed the incident reported it to park rangers at Zion's East Entrance gate. The witness said the man had fallen about 20 feet, landed mainly on his head, and was unconscious when he left to get help. The victim’s hiking partners responded immediately and began CPR.

Park rangers, who are also medics, arrived on the scene in about 12 minutes and continued CPR with the use of a Life Pak and Automated External Defibrillator, but were unable to revive the man.