SPRINGDALE, Utah – Authorities have identified the man who was killed after falling in Zion National Park over the weekend as 24-year-old Brian Artmann of Henderson, Nevada.
Officials said Artmann and three other canyoneers were trying to complete Heaps Canyon at the time of the accident.
According to officials, Artmann fell near 100 ft. at about 7 p.m. Saturday.
The area is so remote, his companions weren’t able to get out of the canyon to alert the park until almost 11:30 p.m.
Park officials said Heaps Canyon is a strenuous, challenging, technical canyon with an approximate 3000 foot descent.
They said it usually takes 12 to 20 hours to complete, consists of a number of rappels into cold water, and ends with a final 280 foot rappel to the Upper Emerald Pool area.
Zion National Park said, from interviews with the other canyoneers, the group thought they were at the section of the canyon that requires some scrambling to the next set of anchors.
Artmann was unroped at the time of the accident.
Officials said a helicopter crew from Grand Canyon helped with the rescue turned recovery Sunday morning.
A Search and Rescue Team of sixteen rangers, technical rescuers and helicopter crew members contributed to the recovery.
