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An Arizona woman went missing after a flash flood in Havasu Canyon. Her body was found about 20 miles down stream 3 days later.
Chenoa Nickerson, 33, was with her husband when she was swept away by flood waters on Aug. 22. Three days later, her body has been found.
GRAND CANYON VILLAGE, Ariz. — Three days after she was swept away by a flash flood in the Havasu Canyon area of the Grand Canyon, the body of Chenoa Nickerson has been found, according to National Park authorities.
On Aug. 22, Nickerson was with her husband when a flash flood struck Havasu Canyon and swept her away.
Nickerson’s husband was able to be rescued by a group of rafters, but Nickerson went missing.
Crews searched for Nickerson over the past three days, ultimately finding her body about 20 miles downriver from where she went missing, according to the National Parks Service.
The Grand Canyon National Parks Service says Nickerson’s body was found at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday by a commercial river trip at river mile 176 on the Colorado River. She went missing at river mile 157.3.
After being notified about the body, Grand Canyon National Park rangers recovered her body, and she was transferred to the rim of the canyon by helicopter before being taken to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
An investigation is being performed by the National Parks Service and Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Officer into Nickerson’s death.
No other information was released.
Nickerson’s family released a statement on Sunday after her body was found. The full statement is below.
The search for our sister, Chenoa Nickerson (née Wolters) has come to an end. We regret to inform you that our sweet Chenoa has been found deceased. Our hearts are heavy with grief.
Our family would like to express our sincere and endless gratitude to the men and women of the National Park Service Search and Rescue team for their tireless, selfless, and courageous efforts. We are profoundly grateful for their dedication and hard work, which have impacted us in ways that words cannot express. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has shown us unwavering support and compassion throughout this unimaginable nightmare.
As we begin to process the reality of the devastating loss of our Chenoa, we kindly ask for privacy and space to grieve and pray for a peace that surpasses all understanding.
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.
More than 100 people had to be airlifted out of Havasu Canyon by the Arizona National Guard after the flooding. The trail to Havasu Canyon, the Havasupai Campground and the Havasu Falls areas are closed indefinitely, according to the Havasupai Tribal Council.
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