An Illinois man hiking up the South Kaibab Trail to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park collapsed and died about a half-mile below the rim top.
William Smith, 60, of Oswego, Illinois, had hiked down to Ooh Ahh Point, about a mile from the trailhead, and was on his way back up when he collapsed shortly before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, a park release said. When rangers reached the man bystanders were performing CPR on Smith. While the rangers took over, attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful.
An investigation into the incident was being conducted by the National Park Service in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
Smith's death comes just days after an Ohio woman on a backpacking trek in the park collapsed and died below the South Rim. That incident prompted rangers again to warn visitors to Grand Canyon, and especially those who planned to hike down from the South or North rims, to be prepared for excessively hot days in the coming weeks.
Hikers are strongly encouraged to read the Hiking Tips page and check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on inner canyon conditions.
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