Scott Sims Obituary, – The National Park Service confirmed that Scott Sims, a 69-year-old man from Austin, passed away while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park. He was discovered semi-conscious on the River Trail, located halfway between the Silver Bridge and Black Bridge near Phantom Ranch.
Upon receiving a report of a semi-conscious hiker around 7 p.m. on Saturday, park officials found Sims unresponsive shortly after. Bystanders initiated CPR while three NPS paramedics from Phantom Ranch responded to the scene. Despite all resuscitation efforts, they were unable to revive him.
Sims had been attempting to reach Phantom Ranch for an overnight stay via the South Kaibab Trail. The park service warned that temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) in the shade.
“Park rangers strongly advise against hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” the statement emphasized. An investigation into Sims’ death is being conducted by the National Park Service and Coconino County Medical Examiner.
Data from the park service regarding deaths in national parks revealed that hiking is the most dangerous recreational activity in the Grand Canyon, with 18 fatalities recorded between 2014 and 2019. Among these, eight were attributed to environmental factors. Hiking ranks as the second most perilous recreational activity across all national parks, following driving.
