The body of an Arizona woman who went missing in Grand Canyon National Park after a flash flood was recovered on Sunday, according to park rangers.
Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from Gilbert, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, was found by a group rafting down the Colorado River around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, the park said in a statement.
Rangers retrieved Nickerson’s body, which was then transported to the rim by helicopter and subsequently transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office.
In a statement released Sunday, Nickerson’s family expressed their gratitude to searchers and supporters while requesting privacy. “We regret to inform you that our sweet Chenoa has been found deceased. Our hearts are heavy with grief,” the statement said. “Chenoa’s light will forever be a part of all of us, and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly. Her memory will never fade, and we will honor her by carrying forward the joy and love she brought into all of our lives.”
National Park Service officials reported that Nickerson was caught in the flash flood and swept into Havasu Creek above the Colorado River confluence around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. She was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
Nickerson had been hiking along Havasu Creek about a half-mile from where it joins the Colorado River when the flood occurred.
Her husband was among over 100 individuals who were safely evacuated from the area.
The flood had trapped several hikers both above and below Beaver Falls, one of a series of typically blue-green waterfalls on the Havasupai Tribe’s reservation, known for its picturesque scenery but susceptible to flash floods that can turn the waterfalls chocolate brown.
Other hikers managed to reach the village, about two miles from the campground, where they awaited helicopter evacuation.
Governor Katie Hobbs activated the Arizona National Guard, which included Blackhawk helicopters, to assist in evacuating hikers from the village.
Guard officials estimated that 104 tribal members and tourists near Havasupai Falls have been evacuated since Thursday when floodwaters left them stranded.
The Havasupai Tribe’s reservation is one of the most remote areas in the continental United States, accessible only on foot, by mule, or via helicopter.
Helicopter evacuations commenced after bridges were washed away and rescuers mobilized amid the towering waterfalls.
The medical examiner’s office and the park service are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Nickerson’s death.
