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A group of us were getting ready to descend Bear Canyon yesterday when we were approached by two people asking for help in neighboring Sundance Canyon. After a brief and disjointed explanation we understood that someone was unconscious and CPR was being performed. Someone else had left the area in search of cell signal to call for help. Not sure what we could really do to help but willing to lend extra hands and/or rigging, we set out for Sundance. After about 30 minutes of hiking through the canyon we came across a person on the ground with a group of Firefighters and what we took to be the rest of the group of hikers. We offered assistance and were told that it was too late. The only information we were given was that it was a cardiac arrest. Given the somber mood and relative lack of immediacy or urgency we assume that the person had already died.


First off I'd like to offer condolences to the family of the man and the group he was traveling with. Second, I'd like to commend the rescue personel who came out to help, we were all mystified by how quickly they responded given the location of the incident. Third, I was wondering if anyone had seen any more information about this in the papers or on the news. I've done a google search but couldn't come up with anything.

Rumor is it was a 16 year old. There is confusion over whether it was a rappel accident or not, you seem to have the most info I've seen so far.

Cardiac arrest in a 16 year old? What would have caused that? Hypothermia from the cold pools?

Copied from the ACA forums:

"I was one of the scout leaders with this young man when he passed away. We arrived in the area late that night preparing to do both Sundance and Bear Canyons. We had three youth with us and two adult leaders (myself and one other). The youth who passed away was 15 years old and stood at a height of 6'2" and as any kid that size would do he played on the varsity football team. He's very athletic and had a clean bill of health. He was a giant in both heart and size and will be missed greatly by all. As for what happened we are not really sure at this time. We started the canyon and had only gotten just beyond where some small pot holes were when he hopped down from a 3' boulder. He took two steps turned around and collapsed to the ground. (Prior to that incident there was no complaints of pain or discomfort. No falls to cause Trauma. No labored breathing. At times he was in the head of the group laughing and playing and having a great time. At the time he was in the rear of the group helping a friend avoid getting his feet wet in a small pot hole.) One leader left to get help while the youth and I stayed and did CPR. We were still doing CPR when the medics arrived over an hour later where they pronounced him on scene. The rescue team treated him with the upmost respect and care and everyone involved did a great job. We are thankful for everything they did. We stayed while they airlifted him out and met his father at the medical examiners. We are all taking this hard. Will was a good friend and served others as if they were a part of his family. He will be missed. The medical examiner is examining him on monday but it may be longer until they know exactly what happened. It would be greatly appreciated if everyone could keep his family in you prayers. Thank You... "

That's too bad... Maybe he just had one of those heart defects and it was just a matter of time before he went.

I like your quote. I have a nasty 3 inch gash in my shin to attest to that...

How tragic. Yes, the family and all concerned are in our thoughts and prayers.

For a young man his age most etiologies for sudden cardiac death are congenital or related to substance abuse. It really doesn't sound like it could be the latter...

Interview with his father, ignore the map at the beginning showing Camp Verde somewhere east of Page

http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/19829557/detail.html

6'6" 280# climber? Really??

I wouldn't wanna haul my 6'4" 235# frame up most climbs.

I think the news got it wrong again. He was probably here to hike.

They often mistakenly call canyoneering, climbing due to needing similar gear...

Vaporman wrote:They often mistakenly call canyoneering, climbing due to needing similar gear...

The misconceptions the general public has about what we do "out there" are legion. When you have to explain what backpacking is to someone, next try to explain canyoneering. Or, better yet, don't bother because they won't get it. It'll be a waste of breath to try to explain it. I would say most people in the US don't even know what backpacking is, let alone canyoneering. Ditto, mountain biking.

An update:

"Found out what had caused Will's death a while back ago. Just getting around to posting it. The Coroner put down that it was a myocardosis carditis brought on by a sarcoidosis. Basically means that he died of heart failure due to a virus attacking his heart at sometime which caused inflammation and an interruption in some of the electrical signals going to his heart. It is a common cause of sudden death. "

At least it was quick and something nobody should be second-guessing themselves about. RIP.

Sad news, but I agree with Big_Load. Not anything that anyone on the trip could have done anything about. RIP indeed.