Grand Canyon River Tragedies: Park Rangers Probe Fatal Incidents

Early on the morning of September 7, around 5:30 a.m., a call came into the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center reporting a tragic incident near Poncho’s Kitchen at river mile 137 along the Colorado River.

When park rangers arrived, they found Patrick Horton, 59, from Salida, Colorado. Horton had been on a non-commercial river trip for 10 days with his group when his fellow travelers discovered him. Sadly, he had already passed away.

The National Park Service is currently investigating the circumstances, working closely with the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. At this point, no further details have been released.

Park rangers have been busy this season investigating fatalities on the Colorado River.

On Sunday, August 25, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Grand Canyon National Park was alerted to an emergency via a satellite phone call from a commercial river trip near Fossil Rapid (river mile 126) on the Colorado River.

The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that CPR was in progress on an 80-year-old male who had entered the river after his boat flipped at Fossil Rapid. Despite the efforts of the group and park rangers flown in by helicopter, all resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

Earlier that same day, at about 11:30 a.m., the body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from Gilbert, Arizona, was discovered by a commercial river trip near river mile 176 in the Colorado River. Park rangers responded and recovered the body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

Nickerson was reported missing following a flash flood that struck Havasu Canyon (river mile 157.3) on August 22. She was last seen approximately 100 yards above the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River. The National Park Service conducted a multi-day search and rescue operation.

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This story will be updated as necessary.