Grand Canyon National Park Rangers Investigating Fatality on Bright Angel Trail

Grand Canyon National Park rangers on Tuesday were trying to determine the cause of death of an Arizona man whose body was found on the Bright Angel Trail.

Park officials say the Grand Canyon Regional Communication Center was contacted about 6 p.m. Monday about a man down on the trail just below the "Mile-and-a-Half House." The call was made by family members who were hiking ahead of the man, who has been identified as 63-year-old Joseph Mitchell, of Clarkdale, Arizona.

The family members told rangers that when they found Mr. Mitchell he was not breathing, was unresponsive, and his head was bleeding.

While rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene, the 911 operator provided family members with instructions on how to perform CPR. Upon arriving at the scene, park rescue personnel took over CPR, but were never able to revive the patient, who was declared dead at the scene, the park reported.