Body of student recovered after 400ft fall at Grand Canyon National Park
The body of a man who fell 400ft (122m) from a viewpoint in the Grand Canyon has been recovered, officials have said.
Park rangers were called to reports of a visitor falling from the Pipe Creek Vista in the Grand Canyon National Park at around 10.30am on Wednesday.
The body of Abel Joseph Mejia, 20, of Hickory, North Carolina, was discovered around a quarter of a mile away, park officials said.
In a statement, Indiana Bible College identified Mr Mejia as a student at the Indianapolis school and said he was known for his warm smile and gentle spirit, Sky's US partner NBC News reported.
"His absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him," the school added.
The National Park Service and Coconino County medical examiner's office is investigating.
Authorities advise all Grand Canyon visitors to stay at least six feet (1.8m) away from edges of the rim.
According to National Park Service data, 14 people died inside the Grand Canyon National Park between 2014 and 2019, the most recent period for which figures are available.
Overall, there were 205 fatal falls across the whole US park network in that period.
Analysis by NBC News found Washington state's North Cascades National Park had the highest fatality rate last year.
-SKY NEWS
