Tourist found dead after flash flood near Grand Canyon
Near the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the body of a tourist swept away by a swollen tributary of the Colorado River was found. Missing for three days, Chenoa Nickerson, a 33-year-old resident of Phoenix, was found dead about 20 miles from where the powerful flash flood occurred.
4:21 PM EDT, August 26, 2024
The body of the missing woman was found by participants of a Colorado River tour on Sunday at around 2:30 PM Eastern Time. Chenoa Nickerson is the only fatality caused by the flood triggered by torrential rains that hit the Grand Canyon in the American state of Arizona on Thursday.
Nickerson was without a life jacket when she was swept away by the waters of Havasu Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River. The search involved American Army helicopters, ground units, and boats. Over a hundred people were rescued.
The search focused on the area where Havasu Creek flows into the Colorado, as well as lands belonging to the Havasupai Native American tribe, which also requested assistance due to the flood. UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were among those used in the evacuation effort.
Tragic end to Grand Canyon expedition
Chenoa Nickerson was staying at a campsite near the small village of Supai in the Havasupai Reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The swollen creek waters swept her away as she walked along it.
As reported on Sunday by the Havasupai Tribal Council, all hiking trails leading to Supai became impassable. It is a very popular area among tourists, featuring famous waterfalls, including the 100-foot-tall Havasu Falls.
Therefore, during the flash flood, there were many tourists present who had no way to escape the rapidly rising waters.
This tragedy reminds us of the power and destructive effects of weather phenomena such as flash floods. While exploring areas like the Grand Canyon, one should exercise extreme caution.
