By: Cassidy Shirlow

John Anderson, 53, was just visiting the Grand Canyon with his family when suddenly things took a turn for the worst. Anderson, from Grapevine, Texas, fell off the rim of the Grand Canyon about 350 ft. The fall was said to be accidental as investigators say they think he was trying to retrieve something, possibly a hat, when he fell. Witnesses say they remember him being by a small rock, or barrier, but no one saw him free fall off the rim of the canyon. Rangers found his body and tried reviving him, but unfortunately their efforts were unsuccessful. A helicopter was then brought in to remove his body. Annual averages of 12 people die at the Grand Canyon out of the 4.5 million that visit. Yet only two or three of them are caused from actually falling off the rim. Other incidents can include anything from suicide, natural causes, medical issues, and traffic crashes. Visitors should be very aware of their surroundings when visiting a place like the Grand Canyon, and rangers warn all visitors to watch where they’re stepping and to not get too close to the edge.