A man has died in the Grand Canyon after attempting an illegal BASE jump, a risky parachute jump, from Yavapai Point on the South Rim, the park said Friday. It was the second fatality at the national park in as many days.
The park did not release the names of the deceased on Thursday, as it is still awaiting positive identification and notification of family.
The jump attempt was reported to the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center. Park rangers were able to recover the man’s body about 500 feet below the rim Friday morning, along with a deployed parachute.
The body was airlifted to the outskirts of town and then taken to the Coconino County coroner’s office.
National Park Service/K. Kasper
The National Park Service and the coroner are investigating what happened.
BASE jumping is a risky activity where you jump from fixed objects with your parachute. BASE jumping is illegal throughout Grand Canyon National Park.
The announcement comes just one day after park officials said a North Carolina park student dies after fall from 400 feet near a beautiful viewpoint on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Park rangers said they received a report of a park visitor falling from the Pipe Creek Vista around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. They said the body of Abel Joseph Mejia, 20, of Hickory, was later found about a quarter-mile from the lookout.
Indiana Bible Colle in Indianapolis reported in a social media post that Mejia was studying there.
“Abel lost his life yesterday in an accident while visiting the Grand Canyon,” the college wrote. “He was known for his warm smile and gentle spirit, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him.”
Turning Point Pentecostal Church reported in a social media post that Mejia was on a mission trip before he died.
Joelle Baird, a public information officer for Grand Canyon National Park, said this week that the iconic park averages about 10-15 deaths a year.
