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SPRINGDALE — A California man, fell to his death while rock climbing in Zion National Park on Sunday.
Forty seven-year-old Christopher H. Spencer fell approximately 80 feet at about 11 a.m. while starting to climb the technical Iron Messiah.
"All we have from his fellow climber is that he apparently fell backward. He was not roped in and he was not wearing a helmet," said park spokesman Aly Baltrus.
Spencer was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Baltrus said the accident marks the fourth death in the park in 2014, and eighth climbing fatality since 1983.
