Man falls to his death while canyoneering in Zion National Park

SPRINGDALE, Utah (AP) — A canyoning hiker has died Zion National Park after falling between 150 and 200 feet near the Upper Emerald Pool in southwestern Utah, according to the National Park Service.

The 40-year-old man, whose identity has not been released, was rappelling through Heaps Canyon with three others Saturday evening and fell to his death. When the fall occurred, the group was following their permitted route through the long and physically demanding gorge.

Zion National Park and the Washington County Sheriff's Office are still investigating the man's exact cause of death. But the National Park Service confirmed Sunday that it was an accident.

After receiving a report of the fall, the Zion Search and Rescue team along with Sheriff's Department officers arrived on scene and attempted to save the man's life. The Utah Department of Public Safety then transported the man to the Watchman Campground area by helicopter and he received additional medical assistance from other local authorities.

He was pronounced dead before he could be flown to a hospital, park officials said.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” said Jeff Bradybaugh, superintendent of Zion National Park.

Public security officials rescued two of the three remaining canyoning fans using a helicopter on Sunday. The Zion search and rescue team helped the third person rappel out of the canyon and reach safety in the afternoon.