By Alexandra E. Petri
On Saturday, a man from Colorado was discovered deceased in Grand Canyon National Park, as reported by the National Park Service. This marks the seventh fatality recorded there in under two months.
The individual, identified as 59-year-old Patrick Horton from Salida, Colorado, was partaking in a self-guided river excursion along the Colorado River when he was found unresponsive by other group members, according to a statement from the park service.
The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center, responsible for emergency dispatch in the region, received a notification regarding a death at approximately 5:30 a.m. Saturday in a location referred to as Poncho’s Kitchen, situated around River Mile 137 on the Colorado River, as stated by the park service. Park rangers arrived and confirmed Horton was deceased at the site.
Horton passed away on the 10th day of a private, self-guided river outing, which necessitates a river permit obtained via a lottery system, as per the park service.
Details regarding the cause of death have yet to be disclosed. The park service is conducting an investigation in conjunction with the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Spokespersons for both the park service and the medical examiner’s office did not immediately reply to inquiries for comment on Monday evening.
Grand Canyon National Park, located in northern Arizona, draws millions of visitors annually, with many being hikers who trek thousands of feet down from the canyon rim to the Colorado River. According to the Arizona Office of Tourism, around 5,000 of the 27,000 individuals navigating the river through the Grand Canyon each year do so via private trips with the necessary park permits.
This incident represents the seventh death reported in the Grand Canyon since July 31, based on previous communications from the park service. Other fatalities include a 60-year-old hiker from North Carolina reported missing during a multi-day backpacking adventure; an unnamed 80-year-old man who succumbed after his boat capsized in a river; Chenoa Rickerson, 33, whose remains were located following a flash flood; and Leticia A. Castillo, 20, whose body was discovered 150 feet below an overlook.
At least 15 fatalities have occurred in the Grand Canyon this year, including six reported over two distinct weeklong periods during the summer, as outlined by The New York Times.
The park typically records about 17 deaths annually, with cardiac arrest being the most prevalent cause, according to data from the past decade.
