Death toll hits 5 in less than month at iconic American park

In recent days, two more people have died at Grand Canyon National Park, bringing the death toll at the iconic American destination to five in less than a month.

The bodies of the two people who most recently died were recovered on August 25, one being an 80-year-old male who flipped his boat at the Fossil Rapid of the Colorado River and the second being 33-year-old Chenoa Nickerson, who was swept away into Havasu Creek during a flash flood on August 22 .

While these more recent deaths involved water, at least two of the three other deaths that have occurred in less than a month involved big falls, one of which was a failed BASE jump. Those deaths occurred on July 31, August 1, and August 3.

By unofficial count, the two most recent deaths appear to put the death toll at the park at 13 so far in 2024. Assuming that count is correct, this would put 2024 over the recent average number of deaths that occur at Grand Canyon National Park each year, which is about 12 deaths. Between 2007 and early 2024, Grand Canyon National Park had the second-highest death toll among American national parks, at 198 deaths. Given the high number of visitors, however, the park ranks 19th in death rate, at 23.97 deaths per 10 million recreational visits, according to a report from the Panish, Shea, and Ravipudi law firm .

Condolences go out to those impacted by these deaths.

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