An 83-year-old hiker, identified as Gerald Guinn of Kanab, Utah, was rescued Tuesday evening after an extensive overnight search in a remote area of Grand Canyon National Park. Guinn, described as an experienced outdoorsman, had been missing since Monday afternoon.
Guinn and his hiking companion intentionally separated around 12:30 p.m. on Monday near the park's northeastern boundary to search for a historic object. While his companion located the object, Guinn did not return. After several hours, the companion alerted authorities.
Search efforts commenced Monday night and involved personnel from Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County Search and Rescue, and Kane County Search and Rescue. Teams navigated burned forest areas on foot, aided by drones, search dogs, and helicopters covering the remote terrain. A cellphone ping from Guinn's phone on Tuesday helped investigators narrow the search area.
Park officials located Guinn via helicopter around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was found approximately 2.5 miles from where he was last seen. Although he waved to the helicopter crew, the steep terrain prevented a direct landing. A Kane County Search and Rescue team subsequently hiked about 1.5 miles to reach him.
Rescuers found Guinn to be in good spirits but cold and unable to walk. He was provided with water and warm clothing. Due to approaching darkness and the challenging terrain, a helicopter extraction was not feasible. Instead, a paramedic was airlifted to Guinn's location, and approximately 20 rescuers carried him on a stretcher through the rugged landscape, clearing obstacles. They reached a nearby road around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, more than 36 hours after Guinn began his hike.
Guinn was evaluated by emergency medical personnel at the scene and released. The National Park Service expressed gratitude to the Coconino and Kane County Search and Rescue teams for their assistance in the successful rescue operation.