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SPRINGDALE, Washington County — Two agencies are investigating the death of a hiker at Zion National Park Wednesday, park rangers said.
A search and rescue team was called to the West Rim Trail at the Angels Landing access point to a call of a man experiencing shortness of breath. Emergency medical technicians that joined the search team attempted to resuscitate the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, public information officer John Marciano said.
The National Park Service and Washington County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the death, Marciano added. The man’s name and age were not released.
“Our hearts are heavy for the loss of one of our visitors today,” said Jeff Bradybaugh, Zion National Park superintendent, in a prepared statement.
The hiker’s death was one of three search and rescue operations the park dealt within a concurrent span.
Marciano said a rescue team was dispatched to a report of an injured hiker on the Wildcat Canyon Trail Tuesday night. The hiker was treated and carried back to the trailhead Wednesday morning.
As the team was wrapping up that rescue, dispatch received a report of the man suffering a medical emergency at the Angels Landing access point.
As that search and rescue was underway, dispatch received a call of another man having a medical emergency on the Emerald Pools Trail. Marciano said that man transported by medical helicopter to Dixie Regional Medical Center where he is recovering.
Marciano said park rangers and search and rescue teams can become limited with multiple incidents going on at the same time. He urged park visitors to be aware of the park’s steep terrain and temperature extremes and having the proper supplies before entering the park.
