Three deaths have occurred at the Grand Canyon National Park since July 31st. The most recent victim, Leticia Castillo, a 20-year-old from Albuquerque, was found 150 feet below an overlook on the South Rim on August 3rd. On August 2nd, the body of a BASE jumper was discovered 500 feet below Yavapai Point, also on the park’s south rim. BASE jumping is prohibited in the Grand Canyon and across the national park system.
In July, Indiana college student Abel Mejia fell to his death near an overlook on the park’s South Entrance Road. An investigation into his death is still ongoing. The park spokesperson, Joëlle Baird, stated that the summer months bring challenging conditions at the park, leading to an increase in dangerous incidents and fatalities. Since January, there have been 11 deaths in the park.
Hiking has been identified as the most dangerous recreational activity at the Grand Canyon, accounting for 18 fatalities between 2014 and 2019. Despite the risks, between 2 million and 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon each year. An analysis from NBC News found that Washington state’s North Cascades National Park had the highest fatality rate among all national parks.
The park service and local authorities are continuing to investigate the recent deaths at the Grand Canyon to determine the causes and prevent future tragedies.
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