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Boy Scout on Backpacking Trip to Zion National Park Found Dead

Submitted by Anonymous on July 23, 2010 - 4:09pm

Corey Buxton, a 17-year-old Boy Scout from Las Vegas, somehow became separated from his group in the backcountry of Zion National Park and died. NPS handout.

A 17-year-old Boy Scout on a four-day backpacking trip to Zion National Park with fellow scouts somehow became separated from his group on the second day and was later found dead, according to park officials.

Searchers found the body of Corey Buxton, of Las Vegas, Nevada, near the Hop Valley Trail in the Kolob Terrace area of the park Thursday afternoon, the park said in a release.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound scout had been reported missing the day before, and park officials launched a ground and aerial search of the area. On Thursday the search was intensified with the use of a dog team from Zion Canine Search and Rescue, and two search dogs led rangers to the boy's body, which was about 400 feet from the trail, the release said.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation in cooperation with the National Park Service. This is standard procedure in the case of fatalities in Zion National Park. The cause of death will be determined by the Washington County Medical Examiner.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymously-Yours (not verified) on July 23, 2010 - 9:53pm.

Strange. I don't recall that as being a particularly strenuous or dangerous area to hike in.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 25, 2010 - 12:26am.

Heard about this while i was in the park I was on that trail the day after he was found. just goes to show that the buddy system is really needed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 25, 2010 - 7:35am.

What was the cause of death?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 25, 2010 - 4:32pm.

you are discussing something you know nothing about. I was on the hike with him, he had a buddy, he went off the trail. this was no one's fault.

Submitted by Ray Bane on July 25, 2010 - 10:50pm.

The fact that the young man died in the park does not necessarily mean that he died primarily from park related causes. He may have been diabetic. Considering the season dehydration and heat exhaustion would be suspect. Apparently, the troop leaders had not used the buddy system as a safety measure.

Submitted by Kolby (not verified) on July 26, 2010 - 8:57pm.

I hope someone can share more information about what happened. It would be beneficial for others who venture into this area of the park.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 11, 2010 - 11:41am.

"he had a buddy, he went off the trail. this was no one's fault."

No, it was the leaders' fault. Nobody should have been allowed to be ahead or behind the two leaders and the group should never be allowed to spread out so much that a kid can "go off the trail" without anybody seeing it. The leaders were simply not doing their jobs and I have to wonder if they've ever had any wilderness training at all.

Submitted by Lee Dalton on August 11, 2010 - 2:06pm.

Whoa up there, anonymous.

That seems like a comment that might come from someone who has never tried to keep tabs on a herd of enthusiastic young people. There are times when, no matter how hard you try or how many safeguards may be in place, things happen.

Don't judge until you know ALL the facts.