16th death reported at Grand Canyon this year after boater found dead

The body of a missing boater was found on Tuesday at the Grand Canyon National Park, marking the 16th fatality at the national park this year alone.

Tuesday’s death involved what the park says appears to be a missing 71-year-old man who was on a private boat trip when others noticed he had suddenly disappeared without his equipment, park spokeswoman Joelle Baird shared with CBS News .

The group was able to make it to the park’s communications center late on Monday, where they reported the man’s disappearance. The group had been near Lower Nankoweap Camp when he disappeared.

Search efforts were quickly launched, and, using a helicopter, park rangers were able to locate the body 10 miles downstream.

Park rangers have not shared the man’s name or where he was from.

His death is being investigated by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Both offices are also still examining the death of a 59-year-old Colorado man who was discovered dead on a rafting trip on the Colorado River over the weekend.

Baird shared that the recent string of deaths has pushed the park out of what it usually sees, as there are an average of 10 to 15 deaths there a year.

Deaths at the park this year have been caused by drownings, falls, natural causes, and a heart attack. Though, not every cause has been determined.