A Texas chiropractor and his hiking group are among more than 20 people unaccounted for following a major flash flood that swept through a remote section of the Grand Canyon on Aug. 29.
Dr. John Giusti, a chiropractor and father of three from Granbury, Texas, was hiking and camping in the canyon when floodwaters surged through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area. His wife shared an update via Whipple City Family Chiropractic, stating that Giusti and his hiking group were reported missing.
National Park Service search-and-rescue teams have been conducting ground sweeps and helicopter operations across the canyon floor. The park service has not publicly identified the approximately 15 individuals it is working to locate, and officials have not confirmed Giusti's name.
The National Park Service is requesting that anyone with information about hikers or backpackers who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Aug. 29, or who had campground reservations there, contact investigators. Information can be submitted to the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or [email protected].
Giusti has practiced chiropractic care for 19 years. He was a partner at Whipple City Family Chiropractic in New York for eight years before relocating to Granbury in 2020. Outside of his professional life, Giusti enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, running, and martial arts, according to his practice biography.
The flash flood began around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 29. As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, with no injuries reported. The flooding destroyed nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek, severing hiker access across the waterway. Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, Black Bridge, Silver Bridge, and the Colorado River to river traffic were all closed due to the event.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs stated that her "heart is with the families and loved ones of every person unaccounted for after the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon." The Arizona Division of Emergency Management is collaborating with the National Park Service and Coconino County Emergency Management to support the ongoing search and recovery efforts.
Separately, the National Park Service reported that recovery operations were completed for a 46-year-old man near Crystal Rapids along the Colorado River. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office was on scene. The man's identity, cause of death, and any connection to the ongoing flash flood event have not been disclosed.