The National Park Services (NPS) announced that the body of a 20-year-old woman, Leticia A. Castillo, was recovered in Grand Canyon National Park after she went missing on August 3. Her body was found 150 feet below the Canyon’s Twin Overlooks following a multiple-day search, and was airlifted by a helicopter to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
This tragic incident marks the third death at the park within one week and the eleventh death so far this year. Previously, Abel Joseph Mejia, a 20-year-old from North Carolina, fell 400 feet to his death on July 31, while another man died from a 500-foot fall during a BASE jump on August 1.
Friends and family of Castillo have taken to social media to express their grief and remember her as someone who could “light up any room.” The NPS has not yet provided further comments on the incident.
A review of deaths in national parks from 2014 to 2019 revealed that hiking is the second-deadliest recreational activity after driving, with drowning being the second leading cause of unintentional deaths following motor vehicle crashes.
It is important to exercise caution and be aware of the risks involved when visiting national parks, especially in areas with steep cliffs and dangerous terrain. The safety of visitors should always be a top priority to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.
