Canyoneer Dies in Fatal Fall at Zion National Park

SPRINGDALE, Utah (AP) — A canyoneer tragically lost his life after falling between 150 and 200 feet near the Upper Emerald Pool in southwest Utah, officials reported. The incident occurred in Zion National Park, a renowned destination for canyoneering enthusiasts.

The 40-year-old victim was reportedly rappelling through Heaps Canyon along with three companions on a Saturday evening when the fatal fall took place. The group was adhering to its permitted itinerary through the challenging and extensive canyon at the time of the accident.

While the identity of the deceased has not been disclosed, Zion National Park and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are collaborating to ascertain the specific cause of death, which the National Park Service has preliminarily classified as accidental.

Upon receiving notifications about the fall, Zion’s search and rescue team, alongside officers from the sheriff’s department, were dispatched to the scene in an attempt to administer aid. The Utah Department of Public Safety utilized a helicopter to transport the canyoneer to the Watchman Campground area, where additional emergency care was provided by local medical responders, including Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue and Intermountain Life Flight. Nevertheless, the individual succumbed to his injuries before air transport to a hospital was possible, according to park officials.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” expressed Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh in a statement.

Efforts to extract the remaining members of the canyoneering party continued into Sunday. Two of the individuals were airlifted out by a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter, while the park’s search and rescue team guided the third person to rappel to safety.

Zion National Park, heralded for its canyoneering opportunities, requires wilderness permits for all technical excursions through its canyons. The National Park Service describes canyoneering as an activity that incorporates route finding, rappelling, problem-solving, swimming, and hiking, underscoring the physical demands associated with the sport.