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Teen Dies of Heat-Related Illness While Hiking in Grand Canyon National Park
Rangers attempted a helicopter rescue as temperatures topped 100 degrees and the death remains under investigation, officials said.
An 18-year-old hiker died Wednesday after suffering from a heat-related illness while hiking the Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, according to the National Park Service.
Attempting a day hike from the South Rim to the Colorado River and back, the hiker was found 30 feet below the trail in a remote area near Garden Creek.
At 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, the Grand Canyon National Park Regional Communications Center received distress reports; rangers launched a coordinated helicopter rescue operation, but lifesaving efforts proved unsuccessful.
Officials are withholding the hiker's identity pending family notification, while the National Park Service and Coconino County Medical Examiner investigate the incident to determine the official cause of death.
High temperatures surpassed 100 degrees this week with a red flag warning issued, while park data shows 11 people died in 2025 from common causes including heat stroke, falls, and drownings.