20-Year-Old From Hickory Dies After Falling 400 Feet Below Rim Of Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON, A.Z. — A 20-year-old man from Hickory died after officials say he fell 400 feet below the rim of the Grand Canyon.

Officials say the incident happened just after 10:30am on Wednesday, July 31st. The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of a visitor who fell from the rim approximately 1/4 mile west of Pipe Creek Overlook, according to a news release.

Responding rangers located the body of Abel Mejia, of Hickory, North Carolina, 400 feet below the rim.

A high angle technical rescue mission was used to retrieve Mejia’s body. The National Park Service is investigating the death. No additional information is available at this time.

Grand Canyon National Park staff encourage all visitors to have a safe visit by staying on designated trails and walkways, always keeping a safe distance of at least six feet (2 m) from the edge of the rim and staying behind railings and fences at overlooks.