Accident Database

Report ID# 3958

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Accident Description

Morgan Heimer - missing since 2 June 2015 after hiking in Grand Canyon National Park

ABC News

Authorities at Grand Canyon National Park are searching for a Wyoming man who's reported missing after a hike. Park officials say 22-year-old Morgan Heimer was working as a tour guide on a commercial trip on the Colorado River. He was reported missing about 8 p.m. Tuesday near Pumpkin Springs by a member of the river trip that was on its sixth day of an eight-day trip. Park officials say Heimer, of Cody, was last seen wearing a personal flotation device and also had a water bottle with him.

[from today's NPS Morning Report] Grand Canyon NP Search For Missing River Guide Scaled Back Efforts to find missing river guide Morgan Heimer, 22, have been scaled back following a six-day search that has turned up no clues as to his whereabouts. Heimer was last seen on Tuesday, June 2nd, at approximately 4 p.m. around near Pumpkin Springs along the Colorado River. The initial park response included searching area where he was last seen by air and an immediate hasty search by rangers. For the past six days park rangers have conducted an extensive search of about 14 miles of the river and four miles along its shores. The search will now be scaled back to a continuous but limited mode in which rangers and pilots will continue to look for clues when in the area.

Flyers with Heimer's picture and description remain posted at various South Rim locations, and all launching river trips will briefed on particulars regarding the search. [ Public Affairs Office ( Subject: Lost Guide)

[from today's NPS Morning Report]

Grand Canyon NP Search Underway For Missing River Guide A search is underway for 22-year-old Morgan Heimer, a river gude for Tour West, who's been missing since Tuesday. Heimer was reported missing by a member of the river trip he was guiding following a hike near Pumpkin Springs. The group was on the sixth day of an eight-day trip when the incident occurred. Three ground teams and a river team searched for him yesterday. The teams were dealing with heat, thick stands of tamarisk, boulders, and difficult terrain, as well as deep water with a strong current. No signs of Hemier have yet been found.

Heimer is six feet tall and has blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored Astral personal flotation device, a blue plaid long sleeve shirt, a pair of Chaco sandals, a maroon baseball cap, and brightly colored shorts. He was also carrying a purple water bottle with him when he was last seen. In addition to the search and rescue operation, the National Park Service is also conducting a missing persons investigation.

Anyone with information on his location should contact the National Park Service Tipline at 928-638-7840. [Public Affairs Office]

 

Grand Canyon News Release
Release date: Immediate

Contact(s): Emily Davis; Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski

Phone number(s): 928-525-6490; 928-606-9905

Date: June 5, 2015 

Rangers Still Searching for Missing Guide on Colorado River

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – A Grand Canyon National Park search mission continues for Morgan Heimer of Cody, WY who went missing June 2 at River Mile 213 on the Colorado River.

A river search team focused efforts today along the river and shore in the search area and will continue search activities over the weekend. The search area is located near River Mile 213, also known as Pumpkin Springs. At this time, the investigation into Heimer’s disappearance is ongoing.

A member of Heimer’s river trip reported him missing to the National Park Service at 7:26 pm on June 2 . Heimer is described as a 22 year old male, 6’ tall, blond hair, blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored Astral personal flotation device, a blue plaid long sleeve shirt, a pair of Chaco sandals, a maroon baseball cap, and brightly colored shorts. He was also carrying a purple water bottle with him when he was last seen. Heimer is working as a guide for Tour West.

In addition to the search operation, the National Park Service is also conducting a missing persons investigation. No further information is available at this time. Any individual with information on the location of Morgan Heimer should contact the National Park Service Tipline at 928-638-7840.

-NPS-
Public Affairs Office
Grand Canyon National Park

From mountainbuzz

Morgan attended a semester abroad with a program I direct in Chile fall 2013. I was both his kayak coach and leadership teacher that semester. I have always contended that of all of the students he is the one I would hire first. Morgan is more than a kayak athlete. Morgan is the most giving student I have experienced. Always thinking of others first a true team player. He is likable, strong, a great athlete, intelligent, a worker, a person seeking to progress...

It was shocking and sad when Morgan's mother Lisa wrote asking for our prayers a few days ago. Morgan's peers and teachers at Patagonia Study Abroad have been praying, or sending positive vibes, or meditating or whatever our personal beliefs may be to Morgan ever since that moment. At this point we are hoping Morgan is hanging on somewhere waiting for help to arrive and that help discovers him soon. 


Our thoughts go out to the Heimer's and everyone whom knows and loves Morgan. And to Tour West, as you know Morgan is truly a remarkable person. Please keep your faith and strength. 


With much love and hope. 
David Hughes

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