South Rim fatality

[Nan]

Kimberly Dedes
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 10, 2007 12:00 AM

A 4-year-old Arizona girl died Tuesday after falling approximately 450 feet from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

A park official said the girl is believed to be the youngest person to die from a fall at the Canyon.

The incident occurred at 11:30 a.m. just west of Mather Point, the most popular scenic viewing area in the park. The area was crowded at that time. There is no railing blocking that portion of the Canyon's edge.

After the girl fell, her father rushed down to reach his daughter and begin CPR before medical crews arrived, authorities reported.

The girl was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter.

The father suffered an ankle injury while trying to reach his daughter. He was brought out of the Canyon by forest officials. Authorities did not release the names of the child or her father.

This is the second death sustained from a fall at the Grand Canyon this year, said Maureen Oltrogge, spokeswoman for Grand Canyon National Park. She added that she had never heard of such a young child dying from a fall at the Canyon previously.

The south entrance road along Mather Point was briefly closed following the incident. National Park Service rangers are investigating.
---------------------

(The "second death from a fall" is an error - there were two falls from the North Rim late this summer.)
Gotta feel for the father, whatever the circumstances.

[sierranomad]

That is really sad. I'm surprised the father was able to get down to her without suffering more serious injuries.

[Dschur]

Grand Canyon News Release
Release date: Immediate
Contact(s): Shannan Marcak
Phone number: 928-638-7958
Date: October 7, 2008
Fatality on South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, AZ. – On Monday, October 6, at approximately 4:15 p.m., National Park Service Rangers responded to a 911 call. Witnesses reported seeing a man fall from the edge of the canyon at the first overlook on the Desert View Drive.
Upon arriving at the scene, rangers on the rim and in the park helicopter spotted the victim approximately 250 feet below the rim. Rescue personnel quickly hiked down to the man, but determined that he had died as a result of the fall.
An investigation was initiated both below the rim and with witnesses on the rim. At the same time, the man’s body was prepared for transport and lifted out of the canyon by park helicopter using a long-line operation. The body was then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner and transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next-of-kin. The investigation into this incident is being conducted by the National Park Service.
For additional information regarding this incident, please contact the Grand Canyon Public

[azdesertfather]

So did the Dad die or the girl? Stories seem to conflict? Or am I just reading this wrong?

[big_load]

Stories seem to conflict?

Since they're a year apart, I think they refer to different incidents.

[azbackpackr]

Yup. The girl, one year ago, daughter of a Luke AFB pilot. Very sad.

The other event was just today. And, by the way, when they are suicides, the news media and/or the Park will often withhold that information. Many Canyon "falls" are not accidental.

[big_load]

And, by the way, when they are suicides, the news media and/or the Park will often withhold that information. Many Canyon "falls" are not accidental.

There's something about that press release that screams "suicide". I could be completely wrong, but that's the first thing that popped into my head when I read it. In any case, condolences to everyone affected by it, including the witnesses and those participating in the recovery.

[azdesertfather]

as for my prior question,
i knew there was some stupid personal oversight there

very sad...on both counts.

[Dschur]

Grand Canyon News Release
Release date: Immediate
Contact(s): Shannan Marcak
Phone number: 928-638-7958
Date: October 7, 2008
Fatality on South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, AZ. – On Monday, October 6, at approximately 4:15 p.m., National Park Service Rangers responded to a 911 call. Witnesses reported seeing a man fall from the edge of the canyon at the first overlook on the Desert View Drive.
Upon arriving at the scene, rangers on the rim and in the park helicopter spotted the victim approximately 250 feet below the rim. Rescue personnel quickly hiked down to the man, but determined that he had died as a result of the fall.
An investigation was initiated both below the rim and with witnesses on the rim. At the same time, the man’s body was prepared for transport and lifted out of the canyon by park helicopter using a long-line operation. The body was then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner and transported to the Medical Examiner’s office in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next-of-kin. The investigation into this incident is being conducted by the National Park Service.
For additional information regarding this incident, please contact the Grand Canyon Public

Date: October 9, 2008
Man Who Died in Fall Identified
The man who died in a fatal fall from the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Monday has been identified as 47 year old Michael S. Wilson of Scottsdale, Arizona.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. on Monday, October 6, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of someone falling over the edge at the first turnout on Desert View Drive. Upon arriving at the scene, rangers spotted a man approximately 250 feet below the rim. Rescue personnel quickly hiked to his location and determined that he had died in the fall. His remains were then lifted out of the canyon by helicopter using a long-line operation and were transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
No further information is available at this time. An investigation is being conducted by the National Park Service.
-NPS-

[Dschur]

Body of man recovered from below the South Rim of Grand Canyon identified


Date: November 30, 2009



Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The body of a man that was recovered from below the South Rim of Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon has been identified as that of 62 year-old, B. Holt Vaughn from Broomfield, Colorado. Although it was originally reported that his body was located approximately 200 feet below the rim, new assessments by park rangers indicate he fell approximately 400 feet.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m., on Saturday, November 28, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center began receiving calls from park visitors regarding a man over the edge in an area between Mather Point and Pipe Creek Vista located approximately two miles east of the South Rim Village. His body was located a short time later by park rangers who had initially responded by helicopter. Park search and rescue rangers rappelled down to where the man’s body had been located and prepared the body for transport via helicopter to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. His body was transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner, located in Flagstaff, Ariz., later that day.

An investigation is being conducted by the National Park Service. Mr. Vaughn had been visiting the park with his son, daughter-in-law and other extended family when the incident occurred.

[Dschur]

Body Found Below Rim at Grand Canyon National Park


Date: January 6, 2010
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958



Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The body of a lone male has been discovered below the rim at the Abyss on Hermit Road in Grand Canyon National Park. Hermit Road is the western-most portion of the rim road on the South Rim of the canyon.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 5, patrol rangers noticed a light-colored passenger vehicle parked at the Abyss with no owner immediately apparent. The following morning, rangers went out to check on the vehicle and found that it was still parked at the Abyss, triggering an investigation which included using a spotting scope to search below the rim.

Unable to thoroughly view the area with a spotting scope, rangers requested a helicopter to assist in the below rim investigations. At about 10:45 a.m., the helicopter crew reported spotting the body of a lone male approximately 300 feet below the rim at the Abyss.

Search and rescue personnel have rappelled down to prepare the body for transport. The body will be transported to the rim by helicopter via long-line operation and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

The National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the incident.

[greg]

are there any stories of people who have fallen a substantial distance into the canyon and survived?

[big_load]

are there any stories of people who have fallen a substantial distance into the canyon and survived?

There's a pretty good chance that "fell" is the wrong word in this case. It's an all-too-familiar pattern.

[azbackpackr]

I was gonna say...

[Al_HikesAZ]

are there any stories of people who have fallen a substantial distance into the canyon and survived?

Many people have fallen a long way and very few die from the fall. It's the stopping (or bouncing) that gets 'em.

[joebartels]

You're almost as good as Conan... sorry, that was mean!

[greg]

There's a pretty good chance that "fell" is the wrong word in this case. It's an all-too-familiar pattern.

good point. i've heard some interesting stories of people who chose to end their lives at the canyon..

[Nan]

Greg, there's a book titled "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon" that chronicles, well, what it says on the cover. The authors also include a lot of near-fatalities.

[big_load]

"Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon"

That's an excellent read. Another good one is "Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite". Both illustrate well what really (instead of hypothetically) goes wrong and why.