The Grand Canyon has once again been the site of a tragic event as the body of a missing boater was discovered in the Colorado River. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the National Park Service (NPS) reported that the individual, a 71-year-old male, was found deceased near river mile 63.5 on Tuesday morning, following a missing person alert that was issued around 9:15 p.m. on September 9.
The extensive search quickly formulated to find the missing boater involved park rangers deploying a helicopter, which ultimately located the body along the river's stretch. As reported by ABC 15 Arizona, the deceased was last known to be in the area of Lower Nankoweap Camp, at or around river mile 53.5
While the identity of the victim has not been publicly disclosed, ongoing investigations are being conducted jointly by the NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. In what is already shaping up to be a somber year for the national park, this incident marks the ninth fatality since July, per FOX 10 Phoenix's count.
Just a day prior, officials had announced the death of a 53-year-old man from Colorado, which ABC 15 Arizona notes as the eighth death in the park this summer since July 31. As revelations continue to unfold around this latest tragedy, park authorities are no doubt seeking to thoroughly understand how to possibly prevent such occurrences in the future.
