An Arizona woman has been found dead in Grand Canyon National Park after she fell to her death while trying to take photos, the park has said.
Maria A Salgado Lopez, 59, of Scottsdale, was discovered by responding rangers on Friday 3 July after she accidentally fell from the parks rim west of Mather Point, the park said in a press release.
“Lopez had been hiking off trail and taking photographs with family when she accidentally stepped off the edge,” the park said.
Officials responded to the incident after they received a report that a visitor had fallen from the edge and her body was found approximately 100 ft below the rim, the release said.
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Grand Canyon National Park staff encourage all visitors to have a safe visit this holiday weekend by staying on designated trails and walkways, always keeping a safe distance from the edge of the rim, and staying behind railings and fences at overlooks,” officials warned in the release.
The Centres for Disease Control advises tourists to stay at least six feet away from others they do not live with when visiting parks, trails, and open spaces, only visit parks close to home and practice stringent hygiene measures frequently.
