Man dies after 400-foot fall from rim of Grand Canyon

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (ABC4) — A 20-year-old North Carolina man died at the Grand Canyon National Park on Wednesday after falling 400 feet below the rim.

Officials said Abel Joseph Mejia of Hickory, North Carolina was near the edge of the canyon rim near the Pipe Creek Overlook when he fell over. Due to the height of the fall, Mejia did not survive and his body was later recovered by responding National Park Service rangers.

The National Park Service said it was conducting an investigation into the fall and encouraged visitors to stay on designated trails and walkways.

"Keep a safe distance of at least six feet, or two meters, from the edge of the rim and stay behind railings and fences at overlooks," Grand Canyon National Park officials said in a statement.

The fatality marks the fourth reported death in less than two months at the Grand Canyon National Park. In July, a 50-year-old hiker from San Angelo, Texas was found unresponsive 100 feet below the Bright Angel Trailhead. In June, park officials reported two deaths: A 41-year-old man who died at the bottom of the canyon on the same trail and a 69-year-old man from Texas who was found on the River Trail.

According to the most recent mortality data released by the National Park Service, over 90 people died while visiting National Parks in 2023. Seven of those were falls, with only one fall taking place at the Grand Canyon National Park.