Woman dies near Hance Rapid during Colorado River trip in Grand Canyon

Hance Rapid is located where Red Canyon intersects with the Colorado River at River Mile 77. This is a highly technical and powerful whitewater rapid that was formed by debris from flash floods that tore through Red Canyon, March 25, 2022 | National Park Service photo, St. George NewsPhoto)

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — A Colorado woman died Thursday near Hance Rapid on the Colorado River, the National Park Service reported Friday in a news release.

Grand Canyon National Park was alerted of an emergency by a personal locator beacon from a non-commercial river trip at approximately 11:18 a.m. Thursday.  The Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center then received a report that CPR was in progress.

According to the news release, Mary Kelley, 68, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, reportedly entered the river at the top of Hance Rapid, Colorado River mile 77. Members of the group pulled her out of the water, noted she was unresponsive and began CPR.

Park rangers were flown into the location with the park helicopter and all resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Kelley was on Day 9 of a multi-day private boating trip.

An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner. No further information is available at this time.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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