Fifth Death This Month at Grand Canyon: Man Dies After Boat Capsizes

GRAND CANYON, AZ — A man died at the Grand Canyon over the weekend after his boat flipped while in the water on the Colorado River. This is the 5th person to die this month at the National Park and the 13th this year, according to the National Parks Service.

At around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that a man on a commercial river trip was receiving CPR after being thrown from his boat at Fossil Rapid in Northern Arizona.

“Despite the efforts of the group and park rangers flown in by helicopter, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful,” the National Parks Service said.

The man’s name has not been released.

The unfortunate incident came on the same day that park officials found the body of a missing hiker, Chenoa Nickerson, who was reported missing on August 22. A flash flood struck the area that day and may have caused Nickerson’s death. 

The Grand Canyon continues to be a dangerous place to be for experienced and inexperienced people alike this year. In July, a 50-year-old man from San Angelo died while hiking the National Park. 

While the main danger to hikers at the Grand Canyon is heat, Tuesday’s temperature reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit; these latest two incidents prove that heat is not the only danger. Flash floods and the Colorado River can be just as dangerous if one is not prepared to react to these situations accordingly.

This is a reminder that those who visit National Parks during the summer time need to be well versed in outdoor activities, or at least bring someone who is, if they want to be able to safely enjoy the outdoors.