ZION NATIONAL PARK, Utah — A 58-year-old man died in Zion National Park on Sunday while rappelling in Pine Creek Canyon.
Park officials reported that rescuers were called at about 12:10 p.m. after a 911 text reported a canyoneering accident at the canyon’s final rappel. While NPS rescue crews made their way through the terrain to respond, bystanders began to perform CPR on the man. The emergency crews arrived about an hour and 20 minutes later, and the man was pronounced dead at 1:42 p.m., according to Park Service spokesperson Elizabeth Peace.
A companion who had been rappelling with him was safely rescued from the canyon wall.
NPS and Washington County Sheriff’s Office are actively investigating the death, and no official cause has been determined. The man’s identity and circumstances surrounding the incident are also not available at this time.
The Pine Creek Canyon route is one of the park’s most popular technical canyoneering attractions. The final rappel of the route, where the incident occurred, is a 100-foot free rappel where the canyoneer has no wall support.
