
A 70-year-old visitor to Grand Canyon National Park fell to her death Tuesday/NPS file
A 70-year-old woman who apparently wanted a closer look into the depths of the Grand Canyon fell to her death on Tuesday before rangers could rescue her.
Grand Canyon National Park staff said that about 1 p.m. local time rangers responded to a call reporting that a person needed help at a rocky point west of Pipe Creek Vista, which is between Mather Point and the South Kaibab Trail. The woman had apparently left the trail proper and walked out towards the lip of the rim. However, before rangers could reach her she fell about 200 feet below the South Rim to her death.
The park's helicopter and rescue team were able to recover the body later Tuesday. Her name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
This was the second accidental death in the park this month and this year overall. In early April, a 67-year-old man died from a roughly 400-foot fall from the rim not far from the Yavapai Geology Museum.
Park staff encourages all visitors to have a safe visit by staying on designated trails and walkways, always keeping a safe distance from the edge of the rim and staying behind railings and fences at overlooks.