Three Hikers Succumb to Heat Illnesses at Grand Canyon
WHO:
ABC News - Three hikers, a 72-year-old man, a 67-year-old man, and a 68-year-old woman, were involved in the incidents.
ABC News - The U.S. National Park Service is involved in the investigation of the deaths.
WHAT:
ABC News - The bodies of the hikers were taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiner office for examination.
ABC News - Investigations into the deaths are ongoing, according to the National Park Service.
ABC News - Three hikers died from apparent heat-related illnesses.
ABC News - The temperatures in the Grand Canyon can exceed 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in the shade during midday hours.
ABC News - All three hikers were dead by the time first responders reached them.
WHERE:
ABC News - The incidents occurred in the Grand Canyon National Park, specifically on the South Kaibab Trail and the North Kaibab Trail.
WHEN:
ABC News - The 72-year-old man became ill on June 12.
ABC News - The 67-year-old man and the 68-year-old woman became ill four days later.
WHY:
ABC News - There has been an uptick in heat-related illnesses in the Grand Canyon, prompting park officials to urge hikers to stay off trails between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
HOW:
ABC News - Despite a rapid response and aerial support, the hikers could not be saved before first responders arrived.
(UPDATED June 20, 2026 09:58 UTC)
The bodies of the hikers have been transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's office for examination. Investigations into their deaths are currently ongoing, as confirmed by the National Park Service. Authorities are working diligently to uncover the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
--
(UPDATED June 20, 2026 06:23 UTC)
Three hikers, a 72-year-old man, a 67-year-old man, and a 68-year-old woman, tragically died from apparent heat-related illnesses while hiking in the Grand Canyon National Park. The incidents occurred on the South Kaibab Trail and the North Kaibab Trail, where temperatures can soar above 109 degrees Fahrenheit during midday hours, and all three were deceased by the time first responders reached them. The U.S. National Park Service is now investigating these deaths, as park officials have noted an increase in heat-related illnesses and are advising hikers to avoid trails between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.