Man dies at Grand Canyon after slipping over edge, falling more than 100 feet

A 65-year-old man tragically died this week after slipping over the edge of the Grand Canyon and falling more than 100 feet, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona.

The fatal incident occurred Thursday afternoon in the Guano Point area of Grand Canyon West. Around 2 p.m., the sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was called to assist the Hualapai Nation with a technical recovery operation.

Authorities said the man “slipped and fell over the edge into the canyon and was deceased.” Responders located his body about 130 feet down on a scree slope. Using specialized rope systems, technical rescue crews carefully lowered and raised equipment to recover the victim and transport him to the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Photos shared by the sheriff’s office showed first responders lowering a rescue basket into the canyon during the operation. The department expressed gratitude to the Hualapai Tribal Police Department, Hualapai Nation Fire, and Grand Canyon West Security for their assistance.

“Our condolences are with his family,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Please respect their privacy during this time.” The man’s identity has not yet been publicly released.

This is the second fatal fall at the Grand Canyon in recent months. In September, a 27-year-old Colorado man, Steven “Drew” Bradley of Federal Heights, died when his vehicle went over the rim near the South Kaibab Trailhead in Grand Canyon National Park. Park rangers later recovered his body about 300 feet below the rim.

Bradley’s remains were airlifted by helicopter to the rim and later transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Grand Canyon, one of the nation’s most visited natural landmarks, continues to draw millions of visitors each year — and officials urge everyone to use extreme caution near the edges.