PICTURED: Man, 20, who plunged 400ft to his death at Grand Canyon - as cause of fatal fall revealed

A 20-year-old assemblage student accidentally fell 400 feet to his decease aft hiking disconnected way astatine nan Grand Canyon.

Abel Joseph Mejia of Hickory, North Carolina, was recovered by National Park Service (NPS) workers 400 feet 'below nan rim' of nan Pipe Creek Overlook astir 10:30am connected Wednesday, NPS said successful a press release. 

'Mr. Mejia was adjacent nan separator of nan rim erstwhile he suffered an accidental fall,' NPS said. 

Grand Canyon National Park spokesperson Joelle Baird told AZ Family that Mejia was hiking off-trail, 'which is simply a beautiful communal spot occurrence for a batch of our visitors here.'

The National Park Service, which is presently investigating nan death, reminds parkgoers to 'always support a safe region of astatine slightest six feet (2m) from nan separator of nan rim and enactment down railings and fences astatine overlooks.' 

Turning Point Pentecostal Church said successful a Facebook station that Mejia was connected a 'missions trip' erstwhile nan fatal autumn occurred. 

The betterment of Mejia's assemblage was 'intensive' and progressive 30 people, Baird told AZ Family.

Responders were capable to spot nan young man wrong 15 minutes of being notified of nan fall, but it took longer to extract him.

Mejia attended Indiana Bible College, which paid tribute to nan young clever clever and his 'warm grin and gentle spirit.' 

'His absence will beryllium profoundly felt by each who knew him,' nan schoolhouse wrote successful a Facebook post. 

'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.'

There person been 9 deaths successful nan Grand Canyon this twelvemonth owed to cardiac issues, earthy causes, suicide, and more, Baird said.

The past clip a fatal autumn occurred astatine nan Grand Canyon was successful 2022,she noted.

Grand Canyon National Park is considered 1 of nan astir vulnerable successful nan state and astir 17 group dice per year, according to NPS. 

More than 4million group sojourn each year.