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November 27, 2009

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Heat related hiking deaths in the Grand Canyon

Saturday, Aug. 2, 1997 | 9:09 a.m.

The following people died last summer of heat-related illnesses:

July 1 - Janet Comella, 57, died of heat exhaustion six miles below the rim on the Hermit Trial, just west of the Grand Canyon Village. She and her husband, from Erie, Pa., had a backcountry permit and planned to be in the canyon for four days. The Hermit Trail is steep and rocky with little shade or water.

July 6 - David Phillips, 15, was hiking with his Boy Scout troop from Bountiful, Utah. The troop left from the North Rim and was headed to the river, not using a trail and without the proper permits. Phillips died during a mid-day hike in the primitive Nankoweap Creek area, wearing hot denim.

July 23 - Phillip Grim, 10, died of heat exhaustion at the bottom of the canyon, near Phantom Ranch. The Youngstown, Ohio, boy was found unconscious by a group of hikers on a trail along the Colorado River.

Sept. 8 - John Holforty, 43, collapsed and died while hiking with his family. Authorities initially thought the Felton, Calif., man died of natural causes, but an autopsy revealed that he died of heat exposure.

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