ARIZONA, USA — A woman visiting from out of state drowned in the Colorado River over the weekend, officials with the National Park Service said.
On June 11, 47-year-old Sheetal Patel of Chattanooga, Tennessee entered the canyon for a multi-day boating trip along the Colorado River.
Patel had paused for a break near Pipe Creek Beach when she was caught by the river's current and pulled deeper into the water.
Officials say that commercial guides were able to reach Patel and pull her out of the river to begin CPR. NPS search and rescue personnel arrived on the scene to help with resuscitation efforts but were unsuccessful.
Patel was pronounced deceased on the scene by park rangers.
No additional information has been released at this time, but officials say that NPS and the Coconino County Medical Examiner are investigating the incident.
Hikers are strongly encouraged to read the Hiking Tips page and check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page provided by NPS.
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Drowning Prevention Tips:
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between ages 1-4 aside from birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three children die every day as a result of drowning. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to protect children around water:
Learn life-saving skills.
Everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and CPR.
Fence it off.
Install a four-sided isolation fence, with self–closing and self–latching gates, around backyard swimming pools. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren’t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should be completely separated from the house and play area from the pool.
Life jackets are a must.
Make sure kids wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim. Life jackets can be used in and around pools for weaker swimmers too.
Keep a close watch
When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like reading books, talking on the phone, or using alcohol and drugs.
