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Man Falls 600 Feet To His Death On South Rim Of Grand Canyon National Park

Submitted by NPT Staff on May 22, 2012 - 7:08pm

A visitor to Grand Canyon National Park fell approximately 600 feet to his death from the South Rim on Tuesday, according to park officials.

The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a visitor report of a man over the edge at Pipe Creek Vista located about one mile west of the junction of Desert View Drive and South Entrance Road.

Park spokeswoman Shannan Marcak says that "witnesses reported that they had seen a man fall over the edge. Unable to see anything from the rim, rangers rappelled over the edge and began finding evidence of a fall. At approximately 600 feet below the rim, rangers found a deceased male."

The man's body was lifted to the rim by rope, and was to be transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's office. The name of the deceased was being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

An investigation into the incident was being conducted by the National Park Service in cooperation with the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

Comments

Submitted by Al (not verified) on May 23, 2012 - 9:29am.

Thank you for the report. Our hearts go out to this man's family and friends.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on May 23, 2012 - 3:21pm.

We came up on this during our visit there yesterday. So sorry this happened. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Submitted by Lee Dalton on May 24, 2012 - 6:44am.

What is the current fatality tally at GRCA for this year so far?

When I was on the snowy south rim a month ago, I was appalled at the number of people who were off the trail and at the very edge of a long drop. They were walking on ice, too! I'm sorry, but I feel more compassion for the rangers who have to rappel down and bring up whatever is left than I do for the victims.