Man Dies in Colorado River; Marking Fifth Death This Month at Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON, AZ —  A man died at the Grand Canyon over the weekend after his boat overturned in the Colorado River. This marks the fifth death at the national park this month and the 13th this year, according to the National Park Service.

Around 3:40 p.m. 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 Park Service said in a statement.

The man’s name has not been released.

This incident occurred on the same day park officials found the body of missing hiker Chenoa Nickerson, who had been reported missing on Aug. 22. A flash flood hit the area that day and may have caused her death.

This year, the Grand Canyon has proved dangerous for experienced and inexperienced visitors. In July, a 50-year-old man from San Angelo, Texas, died while hiking in the park.

While heat remains the primary threat to hikers at the Grand Canyon, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, these recent incidents highlight that other dangers—such as flash floods and the Colorado River—can be just as hazardous.

Visitors to national parks, especially during the summer, are reminded to be prepared for the risks associated with outdoor activities or to ensure they are accompanied by someone experienced in navigating such environments.