Deceased Kayaker Identified

Rangers Respond to Report of CPR in Progress on the River
Date: January 10, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, AZ. – On Monday, January 10, at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report from a private river trip of CPR in progress. Rangers were dispatched via helicopter to river mile 44.5 on the Colorado River just below President Harding Rapid. Upon arriving at the scene, rangers took over efforts to revive the 40 – 45 year-old male kayaker, but were unsuccessful.

Members of the party reported looking back after they had successfully navigated the rapid to see the man's kayak upside down in the water. They retrieved him as quickly as possible, then began CPR and called for assistance. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the body was retrieved via helicopter and flown to the South Rim where it was met by the Coconino County Medical Examiner. The kayaker's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Deceased Kayaker Identified
Date: January 12, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958

Grand Canyon, AZ. – A kayaker who died yesterday in Grand Canyon National Park has been identified as 42 year-old Scott Foster of Bend, Oregon.

On Monday, January 10, at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report from a private river trip of CPR in progress. Rangers were dispatched via helicopter to river mile 44.5 on the Colorado River just below President Harding Rapid. Upon arriving at the scene, rangers took over efforts to revive the 42 year-old kayaker, but were unsuccessful. Members of the party reported looking back after they had successfully navigated the rapid to see Foster's kayak upside down in the water. They retrieved him as quickly as possible, then began CPR and called for assistance. At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Foster's body was retrieved via helicopter and flown to the South Rim where it was met by the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

The National Park Service is conducting an investigation into the incident. No additional information is available at this time.