The body of missing commercial river trip passenger Mike Howard, 67, was located Friday, September 14, 2018, near 94 Mile Canyon in the Colorado River. Mr. Howard and his wife were participants on a Canyoneers river concessions motorized tour boat river trip in Grand Canyon National Park. The river trip had stopped for lunch at the mouth of a side canyon named Clear Creek, on September 7, 2018, when Mr. Howard’s wife fell off the boat into swift water. A strong swimmer, Mr. Howard dove into the river. Neither was wearing a life jacket. Mr. Howard reached his wife and then the couple entered Zoroaster Rapid, below Clear Creek. Mr. Howard was not seen again. Howard’s unresponsive wife was pulled from the river and cardio pulmonary resuscitation was begun. Fortunately, Mrs. Howard responded to that rescue effort. She was transported by helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center and later released.

Body Recovered From The Colorado River Believed To Be Missing Man

September 17, 2018 - A body has been recovered from the Colorado River, that appears to that of a missing man who entered the river to save his wife earlier this month. National Park officials say a body was pulled from the river on Friday below Granite Rapids. The body was transported to the South Rim by helicopter and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office in Flagstaff. Based on the evidence found with the body, it’s believed to be that of missing river raft passenger, 67-year-old Mike Howard.

He was reported missing after he and his wife were swept downstream when they got off their boat near Clear Creek back on September 7th. His wife was rescued and flown to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment. An investigation of the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner.