The National Park Service has responded to 11 deaths in the Grand Canyon National Park through July 27 of this year, according to information provided by the federal agency.
That number is five more fatalities than the six deaths reported through news releases on the National Park Service's website.
The National Park Service disclosed the 11 deaths through July 27 of this year in response to an inquiry from The Arizona Republic.
The Republic's request was made after several recent deaths and rescues in the Grand Canyon National Park, including three heat-related deaths in June, and the rescue of an 83-year-old hiker on the North Rim on July 22.
In addition, the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office released an autopsy report in July that concluded
a 26-year-old Arizona State University graduate student had died from blunt force injuries as the result of a fall near the Rim Trail of the South Rim east of El Tovar Lodge. The student's body was discovered May 9 after he was reported missing on April 28.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office announced July 16 that a DNA analysis had confirmed that remains discovered in December in the Hualapai Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon outside the national park grounds belonged to Bill Ott, who disappeared in 2012 at age 65. Ott was searching for polychrome rock art panels on the south side of the Colorado River that previously had only been found on the north side.
In an email, the Grand Canyon National Park Service explained that the agency does not issue a news release for every death that happens in the park.
"While we do release information on many incidents that are of significant public interest, there are a variety of circumstances where a fatality may not warrant a news release, including deaths resulting from medical causes, sensitive law enforcement investigations, or other situations where additional privacy considerations apply," the email said.
Reported Grand Canyon fatalities in 2026
Here is a list of the six fatalities reported in news releases by the Park Service on its website:
Feb. 19: Aaron Benjamin, 30, of Post Falls, Idaho, died after being pulled from the water by members of his group during a noncommercial river trip near Hance Rapid on the Colorado River. Members of his group began CPR. Park rangers were flown to the location by park helicopter. All resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
May 9: The body of Sandarsh Krishna, 26, was recovered near Verkamp’s Visitor Center on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Krishna had been reported missing on April 28, 2026. An autopsy report concluded in July that he died from a fall.
June 3: An 18-year-old man died of heat-related illness while hiking on the Bright Angel Trail. National Park Service rangers responded and found the teen approximately 30 feet below the trail in a remote area near Garden Creek. Despite rapid response efforts by park rangers and a coordinated helicopter rescue operation, lifesaving measures were unsuccessful. The teen was on a day hike when he became ill.
June 12: A 72-year-old male died of heat-related illness while hiking along the South Kaibab Trail.
June 16: A 67-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman died of heat-related illness on the North Kaibab Trail.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This many people have died in the Grand Canyon in 2026
