Vegas man dies after falling into canyon at Zion National Park

The body of a 24-year-old Las Vegas man who fell about 100 feet into a canyon Saturday night at Zion National Park was recovered Sunday morning, the National Parks Service said.

The man, who was not using climbing ropes, fell into a side canyon at Heaps Canyon about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, the Parks Service wrote in a release.

One of the three people who were with the “canyoneer” at the time of the fall stayed with him, while the other two continued through the canyon to get help, the release said.

A helicopter from Grand Canyon National Park took two Zion Search and Rescue team members to the canyon early Sunday morning. Rescue crews rappelled down and found the man dead.

The name of the man will be released after his family has been notified, the release said.

Heaps Canyon, a strenuous, challenging technical canyon with a descent of about 3,000 feet, usually takes 12 to 20 hours to complete, the release said. The canyon has a number of rappels into cold water and it ends with a final 280-foot rappel to the Upper Emerald Pool area.

Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber.