The body of a man who fell 400 feet to his death at the Grand Canyon in Arizona has been recovered by rescuers.
Abel Joseph Mejia, a 20-year-old college student from Hickory, North Carolina, fell from the rim on Wednesday. His body was discovered a quarter of a mile from the overlook of the Pipe Creek Vista.
Rangers arrived at the area after the fall was reported on July 31 at 10:40 a.m. It is unclear what caused Meijia’s fall.
“Mr. Mejia was near the edge of the rim when he suffered an accidental fall,” the National Park Service said. “An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.”
Newsweek reached out to the NPS for comment.
In a Facebook post, Indiana Bible College confirmed that Mejia was a student there and paid tribute to him with a collection of photos.
“He was known for his warm smile and gentle spirit, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him,” the school said.
One commenter on this post said Abel had worked at the Burlington clothing store in Hickory.
According to a Facebook post from the Turning Point Pentecostal Church in Archbold, Ohio, Mejia was on a mission trip when he fell. The church said that Meijia’s brother, Josh, is “a recent IBC graduate that has visited Turning Point on numerous occasions.” It is taking donations for Mejia’s family.
Underneath the post, many churchgoers paid tribute to the young student.
Newsweek reached out to Indiana Bible College and the Turning Point Pentecostal Church via email for comment.
Mejia’s death is the fourth fatality to occur at the Grand Canyon in the last three months.
In June, two deaths were reported by the NPS: a 41-year-old man hiking out from an overnight stay at the bottom, and 69-year-old Scott Sims, who collapsed on the trail due to extreme temperatures.
On July 7, a 50-year-old man from San Antonio, Texas, died after being found unresponsive as he tried to reach the South Rim.
Approximately five million people visit the Grand Canyon each year. Mortality data from the NPS reveals an average of 11 people die per year at the Grand Canyon.
To maintain visitor safety, Grand Canyon National Park urges “all visitors to have a safe visit by staying on designated trails and walkways, always keeping a safe distance of at least six feet (2 meters) from the edge of the rim and staying behind railings and fences at overlooks.”
