Two Texas hikers have been found dead following a destructive flash flood that swept through Bright Angel Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park on August 29th, according to the National Park Service. The victims were identified as John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both of Granbury, Texas.
One member of the hiking group remains missing as search and rescue teams continue operations in and around the canyon.
Search Continues for Missing Hiker
The National Park Service said search and rescue operations remain ongoing as crews work to locate the missing hiker and determine whether anyone else may have been in the affected area when the flash flood struck.
Bright Angel Canyon is located in the remote backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park, where sudden storms and flash flooding can quickly create dangerous conditions for hikers and backpackers.
The destructive flooding on August 29th prompted a major response involving multiple agencies. Grand Canyon National Park is coordinating search efforts with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, Coconino County Search and Rescue, and U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue teams. Officials have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the flash flood or where the victims were recovered.
Authorities Ask Public for Information
As the search continues, park officials are asking the public for help identifying anyone who may have been traveling through Bright Angel Canyon or the surrounding area when the flooding occurred.
Anyone with information about hikers or backpackers who may have been in Bright Angel Canyon or nearby areas on August 29th is being asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.
Flash floods remain among the most dangerous weather hazards facing visitors in canyon environments, where heavy rainfall can rapidly funnel into narrow drainages and transform normally dry or manageable waterways into powerful torrents.
The National Park Service has not announced when search operations for the missing hiker may conclude. Crews continue working in the affected backcountry as the investigation into the deadly flash flood moves forward.
Grand Canyon National Park officials have not released the identity of the missing hiker. Our deepest condolences are with the friends and family of the deceased at this time.