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Fatality on Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park

A 52-year-old man died two miles down the Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park this morning. The Bright Angel Trail is a popular inner canyon trail that starts from the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. The man has been identified as Scott Smith of Lancaster, California.

Early indications are that the man suffered a cardiac-related death. A preventative search and rescue (PSAR) ranger, a ranger who patrols the inner canyon trails and is responsible for educating visitors on how to safely hike in the canyon, was notified by hikers that a man was unresponsive on the trail. The PSAR ranger arrived on scene to find the victim's friend and an unrelated bystander performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The PSAR ranger assisted with CPR efforts. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) units arrived, but despite efforts to save him, the man could not be revived.

The body will be flown to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office in Flagstaff, Arizona. The NPS is conducting an investigation.

A family liaison officer from the NPS is providing support services to the family.

Source: NPS