Death in Grand Canyon: missing 71-year-old boater identified

The body of a missing boater was discovered this week on the Colorado River in the heart of the Grand Canyon, reportedly the 16th person to die in the national park this year.

According to a press release from Grand Canyon National Park, park rangers received a call around 9:15 a.m. Monday reporting a missing boater in the area of ​​Lower Nankoweap Camp on the Colorado River.

The body of a 71-year-old man was found in the river by park rangers in a helicopter on Tuesday, the park said. Initial information indicates that the body is that of the missing boater, the press release said.

The man was on a private boat tour when other boaters noticed he had disappeared without a hat and water bottle, park spokeswoman Joelle Baird told CBS News. The group contacted the park's communications center and reported the man missing, she said.

The National Park Service and the Coconino County Coroner are investigating the man's death, the press release said.

In Grand Canyon National Park there are an average of 10 to 15 deaths per year

According to CBS News, an average of 10 to 15 deaths are reported in the Grand Canyon each year, Baird said. Causes of death include drowning, falls, natural causes and heart attacks, and some causes are still undetermined.