(Scypre.com) – The body of 33-year-old Chenoa Nickerson, who was swept away by flash flooding in the Grand Canyon, has been found, the National Park Service (NPS) confirmed. Nickerson, a resident of Gilbert, Arizona, went missing on Thursday afternoon after heavy rainfall caused a flash flood, dragging her into Havasu Creek, approximately half a mile from where it meets the Colorado River.
The tragic discovery was made at around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday by a commercial river trip near river mile 176 in the Colorado River, according to a press release from the NPS. Park rangers quickly responded to the scene, recovering Nickerson’s body and transporting it via helicopter to the rim of the canyon. The remains were then handed over to the Coconino County medical examiner for further investigation.
Nickerson had not been wearing a life jacket when she was swept away, authorities reported. The incident is currently under investigation by both the medical examiner’s office and the NPS.
Prior to the discovery of Nickerson’s body, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs activated the National Guard to aid in the emergency rescue operations. The search, which focused on the Beaver Falls area of the Grand Canyon, involved rescue crews on the ground, in the air, and on the water. Nickerson, who was last seen wearing a black tank top, black shorts, and blue hiking boots, was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Nickerson had been staying at a campground near the village of Supai on the Havasupai Reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Her family, who had been anxiously awaiting news, previously stated, “We love her very much and are not giving up on her.”
The flooding that claimed Nickerson’s life was triggered by torrential rains, with the National Weather Service reporting that the area received between 1 to 2 inches of rain within just 60 to 90 minutes. The sudden deluge caused several tourists and hikers in the area to become trapped by the rising waters, prompting multiple rescue efforts.
The Havasupai Tribal Council issued a statement on Saturday, revealing that all trails leading into and out of the small village of Supai had been rendered impassable by the storm. Known for its striking blue-green waterfalls, including the 100-foot tall Havasu Falls, the area is a popular tourist destination. The flooding caused extensive damage to a nearby campground, which had to be evacuated and closed.
“The Tribal Council’s focus is the health and safety of the tribal members and those that provide services in Supai,” the council stated. Governor Hobbs echoed this concern, saying, “My heart is with all of the people impacted by the flooding in Havasupai, including tribal members and visitors to the area. The safety and security of Arizonans and all those who visit our state is always my top concern.”
The National Guard’s helicopter operations successfully evacuated 104 tourists and residents from the flooded Havasupai Reservation area by Saturday afternoon. Among those affected was Supai resident Rochelle Tilousi, who described a harrowing moment when she was separated from her children by the rushing floodwaters. “We could see the children running trying to beat the flood, but they couldn’t,” Tilousi recalled. Fortunately, her children survived and are now safe.