Man jumps to his death at Grand Canyon Skywalk, officials say – USA TODAY
On average, there are more than 128 suicides per day in the United States, attempted by people with and without known mental health conditions.
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GRAND CANYON WEST, Ariz. – Authorities are trying to find the body of a man who climbed over a safety barrier at the Grand Canyon Skywalk and apparently jumped to his death.
They say the 28-year-old visitor to the tourist spot on the Hualapai reservation outside Grand Canyon National Park jumped around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
A Grand Canyon West spokesman says a body recovery effort began Sunday morning. Authorities have not identified the man, nor given a reason for why he is believed to have jumped.
Skywalk opened in 2007. It’s a horseshoe-shaped glass walkway that juts about 70 feet over the canyon overlooking the Colorado River.
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The vertical drop from the Skywalk is between 500 feet and 800 feet.
A Chinese tourist fell to his death in March when he stumbled while trying to take a photo close to Skywalk.
Though they don’t happen every day, deaths in the Grand Canyon are not entirely uncommon. Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Vanessa Ceja previously told The Arizona Republic that about 12 people die each year within the park.
Though many of these deaths are related to accidental falls, some can be attributed to overheating and drowning in the Colorado River.
In 2018, an Illinois man fell 500 feet to his death from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The man climbed over a railing and, according to several park visitors, missed a landing spot he intended to jump onto.
An elderly woman also fell to her death at the canyon in April of this year, plummeting 200 feet in what police deemed an accident. This happened not long after a tourist from Hong Kong fatally fell at Grand Canyon’s West Eagle Point while trying to snap a photo.
The National Park Service tries to ensure the safety of Grand Canyon visitors by advising tourists to “keep a safe distance if at least 6 feet from the edge of the rim” and discouraging running or jumping near the rim. They also prohibit climbing over barriers, though this rule is often ignored.
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If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time of day or night or chat online.
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
Contributing: Nicole Soto and Bree Burkitt, The Arizona Republic
Grand Canyon visitors are being reminded to stay away from the edge after another deadly fall.
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