Follow-Up on Three People Missing in the Colorado River
It was reported last Thursday (April 30th) that three individuals had jumped into the Colorado River near the Boat Beach at Phantom Ranch. One body was found on Friday, May 1st, about one mile downstream from the Boat Beach. The body has been identified as 16 year old Mark Merrill. Still missing and presumed dead are his 22 year old brother Joey Merrill, and 15 year old Saif Savaya.
The individuals were members of a church group of about thirty people on an annual 3-day hike trip into the Grand Canyon from the Tri-City Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona. Soon after the incident, the other members of the group returned to Tempe. No details or explanations have yet been given as to the circumstances for these tragic and needless deaths.
Wearing no wet suits and without personal flotation devices of some kind, anyone entering into the swift current of the Colorado River, (with water temperatures between 45- 50 degrees), are almost certainly facing death. The Park Service employed a massive search effort along ten river miles, from the Boat Beach to Hermit Rapids, to no avail. Late Saturday (May 2nd) the active search had been scaled back to a recovery effort.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family members as many questions remain as to how and why these young men entered the river and ultimately perished.
Brian
The individuals were members of a church group of about thirty people on an annual 3-day hike trip into the Grand Canyon from the Tri-City Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona. Soon after the incident, the other members of the group returned to Tempe. No details or explanations have yet been given as to the circumstances for these tragic and needless deaths.
Wearing no wet suits and without personal flotation devices of some kind, anyone entering into the swift current of the Colorado River, (with water temperatures between 45- 50 degrees), are almost certainly facing death. The Park Service employed a massive search effort along ten river miles, from the Boat Beach to Hermit Rapids, to no avail. Late Saturday (May 2nd) the active search had been scaled back to a recovery effort.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family members as many questions remain as to how and why these young men entered the river and ultimately perished.
Brian
Saif and Joey found 5/15/9
http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/two-bodies-recovered.htm
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