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Report ID# 3898

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Accident Description

Second German tourist dies during Grand Canyon holiday

MSN News

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A German tourist was killed when his kayak capsized on the Colorado River in Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park, authorities said on Thursday, the second German visitor to die in the park this week. Park officials said Hans Uhl, 43, was on the first day of a commercial rafting trip on Wednesday when he was unable to right himself after his kayak overturned on a section of the river called Badger Rapids. When a rescue boat reached Uhl, he was initially responsive, officials said. But he soon lost consciousness, and efforts to resuscitate him by members of his group and park service medical personnel were unsuccessful. The National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are investigating the death.

It was not immediately clear where in Germany Uhl came from. It was the third death of a visitor to the park in just over a week. The crimson-hued Grand Canyon ranks as one of the world's most popular outdoor tourist venues, attracting more than 4.5 million visitors each year. There have been eight deaths at the park this year, including four people killed in car crashes or falls from ledges, officials said. An average of 12 people a year die at the canyon from natural and accidental causes. 

(Reporting by David Schwartz; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Sandra Maler)

 

Friday, June 13, 2014

Tourist dies in Grand Canyon kayaking accident

Seattle Times - Associated Press

German man on commercial rafting trip dies after kayak capsizes

By Associated Press

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — Authorities say a man from Germany is dead after a kayaking accident at Grand Canyon National Park. Park officials say 43-year-old Hans Uhl was part of a commercial river trip. The group had just started its multiday trip on the Colorado River on Wednesday when park officials received a call around 2 p.m. about an unconscious kayaker at Badger Rapids. Authorities say Uhl’s kayak capsized and he was unable to right himself. A safety boat was able to reach the kayak, but authorities say Uhl lost consciousness and couldn't be resuscitated. An investigation is being conducted by the National Park Service and the Coconino County medical examiner. Uhl’s hometown in Germany wasn’t immediately available Thursday.

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