The Grand Canyon is one of the most popular and widely recognizable tourist attractions in the world, but unfortunately, it can also be quite dangerous. Steep inclines, sharp drops, and precarious trails mean you need to be on high alert, no matter how badly you want to get that Instagram photo. Just yesterday, a Macau man, who was part of a tour group from Hong Kong, fell to his death at Eagle Point near the Skywalk. The Skywalk offers views as far as 4,000 feet into the canyon. The man fell about 1,000 feet below the rim, where a helicopter was sent to retrieve his body.
Photo: sumikophoto/Shutterstock
Tourist Falls to His Death in the Grand Canyon While Trying to Take a Photo
According to Alice Chan Cheung Lok-yee, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, “The trip to the national park was part of a self-pay activity, and the entire group was guided by the Hong Thai tour guide and a local guide who also spoke Cantonese.”
The National Park Service and local medical examiner’s office are currently looking into the cause of death. A spokesperson for Grand Canyon West, however, claims he died while trying to take photos. This is not uncommon, unfortunately, as many tourist deaths are often due to a lack of caution while taking photographs.
Around a dozen people die each year at the Grand Canyon, and this man’s death is the second reported this week.
Travel writer James Hong Ming-sang warns travelers against the allure of sacrificing safety for the perfect photo. “People are too dedicated to getting the perfect shot,” he told the South China Morning Post. “They forget that just one little slip can be fatal.” 
H/T: BBC