LOCAL NEWS

One man dead, two others brought to safety by search and rescue in Zion National Park

Nov 29, 2021, 9:47 PM
A sign hangs at the  entrance to Zion National Park on May 14, 2020 in Springdale, Utah. (Photo by ...
A sign hangs at the entrance to Zion National Park on May 14, 2020 in Springdale, Utah. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
(Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

SPRINGDALE, Utah — A search and rescue operation in Zion National Park has ended with one man dead and two others brought to safety.

More than 30 rescuers responded Sunday when the group of canyoneers were finally able to make a call for help after several failed attempts due to poor reception.

They had been rappelling in Heaps Canyon on Saturday, which is just north of the park Lodge, when one of them, identified as 31-year-old Andrew Arvig of Chesapeake, Virgina, was unable to finish one of his last rappels above the Upper Emerald Pool.

“Mr. Arvig, the first to exit Heaps Canyon, rappelled past a small rock ledge where he needed to land and re-anchor his rope in order to then rappel the remaining distance to the ground. The other members of the group used their ‘pull line’ to rappel to the perch. Mr. Arvig was unable to ascend the 20 feet back to the perch,” read a press release from Zion National Park.

Rescuers found Arvig 260-feet above the pool, suspended by rope.  

“Arvig… was lowered to the ground and later pronounced deceased by a doctor,” stated the press release.

The other two people he was with, who were found on the rock perch 20 feet above where Arvig was suspended, were helped out of the canyon uninjured.

Officials said the cause of Arvig’s death remains under investigation.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Local News

FILE...
Cary Schwanitz

Body found under overpass at 600 North

A body was found under the overpass at 600 North Saturday morning impacting traffic.
12 hours ago
Rigby Ranch in Newton, Utah, buried in snow on March 24, 2023. The constant string of storms is mak...
Alex Cabrero

Prolonged winter delays Utah farmers’ planting season

Utah farmers are grateful for all the snow this winter and the water that will come from it, but it's also causing some challenges.
2 days ago
A Torus flywheel. (KSL TV)...
Peter Rosen

Utah man creates company devoted to flywheel energy storage

What weighs as much as a Toyota Corolla, spins at thousands of rotations per minute, and, a Utah entrepreneur hopes, might one day live in your backyard and store power to run your home? It’s called flywheel energy storage.
2 days ago
(KSL TV)...
Matt Rascon

Homeless get help, hope from SLC event that includes makeshift courtroom

Hundreds of homeless people gathered at the Salt Palace Friday to connect with services — including a makeshift courtroom — that could help get them off the streets.
2 days ago
FILE: for sale sign...
Ladd Egan

Utah home prices fall after nearly 11 years of increases

The Utah Association of Realtors reports that after 129 months of price increases, January marked the first, year-over-year decline in statewide home prices. And in February, prices dropped again.
2 days ago
Gwyneth Paltrow takes the witness stand to testify about a 2016 ski collision that caused a man to ...
Ayanna Likens

Utah law professor comments on Paltrow ski crash trial as actress takes the stand

The first week of actress Gwyneth Paltrow's trial wrapped up Friday. Paltrow is being sued over a 2016 ski accident. A University of Utah Professor of Law said this trial is very unique.
2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
house with for rent sign posted...
Chase Harrington, president and COO of Entrata

Top 5 Reasons You May Want to Consider Apartment Life Over Owning a Home

There are many benefits of renting that can be overshadowed by the allure of buying a home. Here are five reasons why renting might be right for you.
One man dead, two others brought to safety by search and rescue in Zion National Park