College student, 20, falls to his death at the Grand Canyon

A 20-year-old assemblage student fell 400 feet to his decease astatine Grand Canyon National Park connected Wednesday, authorities said.

Park rangers received a study that a visitant fell from nan Grand Canyon’s rim astir 400 metres westbound of Pipe Creek Overlook, a scenic lookout pinch expansive views of nan canyon. Rangers instantly rushed to nan segment and recovered nan assemblage of Abel Joseph Mejia. He had fallen nan balanced of 37 stories into nan canyon.

A photograph provided by nan National Park Service shows rangers utilizing a statement and pulley strategy to retrieve Mejia’s body.

Mejia was adjacent nan separator of nan rim erstwhile he suffered an accidental fall, nan National Park Service said. The incident is still nether investigation, however, led by nan National Park Service and nan Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Park officials impulse visitors to enactment astatine slightest 2 metres distant from nan separator of nan rim erstwhile visiting nan Grand Canyon. Tourist should besides enactment connected designated trails and down railings and fences astatine overlooks.

Indiana Bible College identified Mejia arsenic 1 of its students successful a tribute posted to Instagram connected Thursday.

“Abel mislaid his life yesterday successful an mishap while visiting nan Grand Canyon. He was known for his lukewarm grin and gentle spirit, and his absence will beryllium profoundly felt by each who knew him,” nan assemblage wrote.

“Let america each subordinate together successful dream for nan full Mejia family during this difficult time. May God bring comfortableness and bid to each who are grieving.”

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Turning Point Pentecostal Church revealed that Mejia was connected a ngo trip erstwhile he fell to his death. The religion is gathering donations for nan Mejia family.

According to National Park Service data, location were 205 fatal falls crossed nan full parkland strategy from 2014 to 2019. Fourteen of those deaths happened astatine Grand Canyon National Park. On average, astir 34 group dice from falls successful nationalist parks each year.

Four group who fell to their deaths astatine nan Grand Canyon were taking photos erstwhile they died, according to nan data, making photography 1 of nan astir lethal recreational activities successful nan park.

Across nan full parkland system, driving is nan number 1 origin of death.